The Lebanese Health Ministry warned Monday that the pandemic has reached a dangerous stage as the country witnessed record-high COVID-19 cases and deaths.
“The pandemic has extended in several Lebanese regions. Health safety is in danger and everyone must possess a high sense of responsibility,” said Health Minister Hamad Hassan.
And amid the spread of rumors about fake COVID-19 death tolls issued by the Health Ministry, Hassan called on the Lebanese not to listen to such false news.
He wrote on his Twitter account, “There is no compensation or aid to the families of the victims who die of coronavirus, contrary to all the rumors," adding that "all that is being circulated may be for the purpose of thwarting the strenuous efforts to fight the epidemic, belittling it or justifying a specific medical shortcoming or for some purpose."
On Monday, the Health Ministry said 457 new cases of the novel coronavirus have been confirmed, raising the tally of infected people in the country to 13,155.
Last Friday, the country entered a partial lockdown, which is set to end on 7 September.
And despite a decision to close most businesses, gathering spots, and private and public spaces, and a daily curfew imposed between 6 pm and 6 am daily activities in Lebanon seemed quite normal in several cities.
Even Beirut’s main entrances witnessed too much traffic, while a large number of merchants refused to close their shops in light of the dire economic crisis.
For his part, Nicolas Chammas, the chairman of Beirut Merchants Association, announced a “total rejection of the lockdown in light of the failure of the state to provide an alternative income for the people, and the restrictions on access to money deposited in banks.”
Meanwhile, King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSrelief) continued delivering medical assistance to Lebanese hospitals that provide free medical services. The center delivered to Rafik Hariri University Hospital in Beirut medical aids, in the presence of the Director of KSrelief's Office in Lebanon, Fahad Al-Qannas, and the Secretary-General of High Relief Commission in Lebanon, Major General Mohammad Khair.
Khair, thanked the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia under the leadership of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and HRH the Crown Prince for the urgent humanitarian aid provided through the Center, noting that the Kingdom has always stood in solidarity with the Lebanese people in times of crisis, most recently after Beirut's port explosion.
