The Lebanese Minister of Health Hamad Hasan announced a series of new measures to limit the spread of the coronavirus, following a surge in the infections over the past few days.
In a televised interview on Monday, Hasan said that nightclubs would be closed again, while public and private gatherings of more than 20 people would be forbidden.
The minister also noted that a comprehensive sanitary plan was set for schools and universities, to be approved and implemented ahead of the start of the coming academic year.
Meanwhile, MP Fadi Alameh criticized the “recklessness” of authorities in charge of following-up the test results of people arriving in Lebanon.
The deputy pointed to “shocking information that the relevant committee neglected to inform some of those arriving from Africa about the results of their positive tests”, adding that those only knew about their infection when “one of the passengers on the plane called to inquire about the results three days after his arrival.”
The region of Hermel registered a COVID-19 infection on Tuesday.
The infected person was taken to Rafik Hariri Hospital, while those who had contact with him were transferred to Al-Batoul Hospital in Hermel awaiting the results of the PCR tests.
The patient knew about his infection but breached the quarantine measures and mixed with a group of neighbors and relatives.
Consequently, the coronavirus crisis cell in Hermel decided to close all institutions, shops, and schools within a three-day period and implement a full lockdown in Al-Marj neighborhood, where the patient resided. It has also mandated the municipal police and security forces to strictly implement the decision.
