The Lebanese government has prohibited residents from traveling to areas that have been infected with the new Coronavirus (Covid-19), including China, South Korea, Iran and Milan, with the exception of essential trips for medical, education and work purposes.
Minister of Health Dr. Hamad Hassan called on the Lebanese to “trust the measures taken in coordination with the World Health Organization (WHO) to prevent the spread of the Corona epidemic, as well as the civil society to cooperate to refute the rumors and false news circulating around it.”
Following a meeting with President Michel Aoun, Hassan said: “President Aoun was responsive to the need to support the health sector to face the challenges.”
“This sector is a red line for everyone,” he remarked.
The Health minister stressed that additional measures were taken with the Iranian and Italian planes to ensure that the epidemic does not spread, revealing that medical supplies were available in the Lebanese market, “but there are those who monopolize them.”
“This is unethical and unlawful, which entails legal prosecutions,” he stated.
Two Iranian planes landed on Monday at the Rafic Hariri International Airport. The first arrived in the morning with 215 passengers onboard, and was found to be clear of Coronavirus.
“The measures we take today, with the Iranian and Italian airplanes are additional, ensuring that the virus does not spread, if present,” Hassan told reporters at the Baabda Palace.
“The plane landed at the airport, after Iranian authorities conducted a health test for all travelers. We have subjected the travelers to a second medical examination, and those who suffer from symptoms will be directly isolated at Rafic Hariri University Hospital, and those who do not suffer from any symptoms will be taken to resorts or scout centers, in regions,” he explained.
A ministerial crisis cell convened on Monday and decided to “isolate people who show symptoms of infection, and those coming from infected areas, at the Rafic Hariri Governmental Hospital.”
