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Lebanon: Rise in Virus Cases Sparks Lockdown Discussions

People wear face masks on the streets of Beirut, Lebanon. AFP file photo
People wear face masks on the streets of Beirut, Lebanon. AFP file photo
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Lebanon: Rise in Virus Cases Sparks Lockdown Discussions

People wear face masks on the streets of Beirut, Lebanon. AFP file photo
People wear face masks on the streets of Beirut, Lebanon. AFP file photo

An unprecedented rise in the number of coronavirus cases in Lebanon has stoked fears that hospitals will be overwhelmed.

“This critical situation is prompting talks about a possible return to a full lockdown as of this week,” Lebanese MP Issam Araji, who heads the parliament's public health committee, told Asharq Al-Awsat.

On Sunday, the Ministry of Public Health announced that 168 new COVID-19 cases were registered in the country, raising the total to 3,746.

Among them is "Strong Republic" MP George Okais, whose infection has stocked concerns that he could have transmitted the disease to members of parliament.

Several politicians, who have recently met the MP, including Lebanese Forces Leader Samir Geagea and Speaker Nabih Berri, carried out tests and their results came back negative.

“If numbers continue to rise in the next couple of days, we must take a decision to return to a total lockdown, except for some sectors,” Araji said.

He explained that such decision would not have a big effect on the economy because Lebanon is closing for two days this week on the occasion of Eid Al-Adha.

The deputy is particularly concerned about the inability of the health sector to cope with rising cases.

He said private hospitals are not well equipped to face a larger outbreak.

“The head of Private Hospitals Syndicate informed us that in case COVID-19 spreads across Lebanon, hospitals will be overwhelmed,” Araji said.

The outbreak would also put a strain on the public health sector, which has no more than 1,900 hospital beds, in addition to 350 beds for intensive care and 170 for patients who need ventilators.

On Sunday, several municipalities announced clusters of COVID-19 cases, urging residents to respect preventive measures.

The Lebanese Red Cross also revealed in a statement that 17 of its paramedics in Zahle have been infected, and are now observing home quarantine.

Also, the Beirut Bar Association announced the closure of its offices for four days starting on Monday after a lawyer contracted the virus.

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Jordan Moves to Ban Muslim Brotherhood as ‘Illegal’ Group

Jordanian government spokesman Mohammad Momani announces details of terrorist cell arrests in Amman. (Petra)
Jordanian government spokesman Mohammad Momani announces details of terrorist cell arrests in Amman. (Petra)
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Jordan Moves to Ban Muslim Brotherhood as ‘Illegal’ Group

Jordanian government spokesman Mohammad Momani announces details of terrorist cell arrests in Amman. (Petra)
Jordanian government spokesman Mohammad Momani announces details of terrorist cell arrests in Amman. (Petra)

As the fallout continues from Jordan’s recent security crackdown on a militant cell accused of manufacturing missiles and drones, officials remain tight-lipped about why a court-banned branch of the Muslim Brotherhood continues to operate freely.

The group, declared illegal by a final court ruling in 2020, has maintained its political activities with apparent impunity—a contradiction analysts say points to selective enforcement of the law.

While Jordanian authorities have detained extremists over what was described as a “chaos plot,” they have avoided confronting the unlicensed movement. The Brotherhood’s continued presence, despite Article 159 of the penal code criminalizing illegal associations with potential jail sentences, has puzzled observers.

Analysts say the government’s “soft containment” approach reflects a broader political culture in Amman that avoids clashes with groups enjoying popular support, even if that means ignoring binding court decisions.

Critics argue the state’s flexibility towards the Brotherhood undermines legal consistency and raises questions about the rule of law, especially as other groups face swift and public consequences.

Jordan’s government appears to have taken a markedly tougher stance following the recent exposure of the militant cell allegedly backed by foreign actors and accused of planning attacks with home-built missiles and drones targeting domestic sites—not under the pretext of “supporting the resistance in Gaza”.

The discovery of the plot has prompted a reassessment within the country’s decision-making circles, which are now closely watching for verdicts from the State Security Court—the judicial body with jurisdiction over terrorism and national security cases.

While authorities have clamped down on the immediate threat, they have stopped short of confronting the unlicensed Muslim Brotherhood group and its political wing, the Islamic Action Front.

Analysts say officials are treading cautiously, wary of provoking parliamentary unrest or street mobilizations that the faction could spearhead if directly challenged.

The government’s current posture suggests a strategic pause—one that balances national security concerns with the potential political fallout of taking on a well-rooted opposition force.

Jordanian decision-makers, however, are stepping up preparations on multiple fronts as the country braces for a possible legal showdown with the Brotherhood.

Authorities are weighing the implications of formally designating the Brotherhood as an unlicensed entity, a move that would entail shutting down its activities, seizing its assets and properties, and treating any political statements or public events linked to its members as violations subject to prosecution under the penal code and counterterrorism laws.

Behind the scenes, government institutions are working to draw a legal and operational distinction between the Brotherhood and the Islamic Action Front, which remains registered under the country’s political parties law.

This delicate balancing act hinges on upcoming hearings at the State Security Court, expected to begin next week. However, officials fear that any legal escalation could spark backlash, including street protests or social media campaigns led by the Islamic Action Front.

Analysts say such a scenario could force authorities to take more decisive measures, including dissolving the party itself, in a bid to dismantle what critics view as a monopolized Islamist platform and reassert control over religious political representation in the kingdom.