PHILO PHOTO: Health workers take swab samples from passengers arriving at Beirut International Airport on their renewed day following the outbreak of coronavirus (COVID-19), in Beirut, Lebanon July 1, 2020. REUTERS / Aziz Taher
BEIRUT (Reuters) – Lebanon must shut down two weeks after a rise in coronavirus infections, the health minister said on Monday as the country plays off Beirut’s massive port.
The country’s health ministry on Monday registered a record 456 new infections, with two fatalities, bringing the cumulative number of cases since February to 9,337, with 105 fatalities.
“We are declaring a state of general warning today and we need a bold decision to close (the country) for two weeks,” Hamad Hassan told Voice of Lebanon radio.
Lebanon, already deep in the financial crisis, was struggling with a COVID-19 spike before the August 4 blast that killed at least 178 people, destroyed warts of the capital and the government urged to resign.
The warehouse explosion damaged many hospitals and overcame them with more than 6,000 injured. It put about half of Beirut’s 55 medical centers out of service, the World Health Organization (WHO) said last week.
“We are all facing a real challenge and the figures that have been recorded in the last period are shocking,” Hassan said. “The case requires decisive action.” Intensive care beds at state and private hospitals were now full, he added.
In comments to Reuters, Hassan said authorities would not close the country’s airport until now, with the rise coming mostly from the country.
“The real danger is the spread in society,” he said. “Everyone should be aware and take the strictest preventive measures.”
Still, after the explosion caused nearly a quarter of a million people, the risk of the virus spreading has increased, the WHO said.
Written by Tom Perry and Ellen Francis; Edited by William Maclean and Gareth Jones
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