Lebanon Records 1,552 New COVID-19 Cases, 17 Deaths

By Staff, Agencies

Lebanon recorded 1,552 new coronavirus cases Tuesday and 17 more deaths, as caretaker Prime Minister Hassan Diab announced a two-week full lockdown as of Nov. 14.

Among the registered cases, 12 were from incoming travelers.

According to the Health Ministry’s report, a total of 96,907 people have been infected with the virus since it was first detected in late February. A total of 749 people have died from virus-related complications.

Head of Rafik Hariri University Hospital Dr. Firass Abiad said in a tweet Tuesday that despite the financial crisis, a total lockdown was the least Lebanon should do to contain the surge in infections.

Abiad added that cooperation was a must in yielding the expected outcomes from the lockdown until a potential vaccine arrived in Lebanon.

A total of 12,714 PCR tests have been administered in the last 24 hours. The average positivity rate of the tests in the last two weeks stood at 14.5 percent, according to the Health Ministry.

There are currently 310 people in critical condition.

Diab announced after a Higher Defense Council meeting Tuesday that Lebanon was set to enter a two-week lockdown starting Saturday and ending Nov. 30 as a bid to curb the accelerating spread of the virus.

The lockdown decision does not include a closure of the airport, sea port or land borders. However, the license plate rule will be applied, as the movement of cars is restricted to certain days in accordance to the last number of their license plates.

“If the Lebanese people abide by the measures, and we succeed in containing the virus by registering low numbers, then we will have saved the people,” Diab said in a televised address.