Libya Reports More than 1,000 Virus Cases in 24 Hours

Libya reports over 1,000 new coronavirus cases in 24 hours. (Reuters)
Libya reports over 1,000 new coronavirus cases in 24 hours. (Reuters)
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Libya Reports More than 1,000 Virus Cases in 24 Hours

Libya reports over 1,000 new coronavirus cases in 24 hours. (Reuters)
Libya reports over 1,000 new coronavirus cases in 24 hours. (Reuters)

Libya’s National Center for Disease Control (NCDC) recorded on Tuesday 1,031 new COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours.

These include 769 new cases and 262 who were in contact with infected people, raising the tally to 38,468, 2,410 recoveries and 602 deaths.

The cases were distributed among 40 cities and municipalities across the country, with 520 cases in Tripoli alone, 45 in the western city of Zawiya and 35 in the eastern city of Benghazi.

The Center urged Libyans to follow all the precautionary measures and avoid gatherings in social events and malls.

Separately, the Government of National Accord’s (GNA) Supreme Committee to Combat the Coronavirus Epidemic (SCCCE) has allowed the General Authority of Islamic Affairs and Endowments to reopen mosques, urging them to take all the necessary preventive measures.

The GNA’s Health Ministry announced on Tuesday the establishment of a “medical tent” to sort out visitors to Tripoli University Hospital before allowing them to enter.

According to a ministry statement, stages through which patients pass differ according to their symptoms, adding that the number of daily visitors will be limited to 1,000 to 1,500.

These stages begin by taking the body temperature, heart rate, oxygen rate and vital functions and end with isolating those tested positive for COVID-19.



US Defers Removal of Some Lebanese, Citing Israel-Hezbollah Tensions

Smoke billows from a site targeted by Lebanon's Hezbollah, along the northern Israeli border with Lebanon on July 25, 2024, amid ongoing cross-border clashes between Israeli troops and Hezbollah fighters. (AFP)
Smoke billows from a site targeted by Lebanon's Hezbollah, along the northern Israeli border with Lebanon on July 25, 2024, amid ongoing cross-border clashes between Israeli troops and Hezbollah fighters. (AFP)
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US Defers Removal of Some Lebanese, Citing Israel-Hezbollah Tensions

Smoke billows from a site targeted by Lebanon's Hezbollah, along the northern Israeli border with Lebanon on July 25, 2024, amid ongoing cross-border clashes between Israeli troops and Hezbollah fighters. (AFP)
Smoke billows from a site targeted by Lebanon's Hezbollah, along the northern Israeli border with Lebanon on July 25, 2024, amid ongoing cross-border clashes between Israeli troops and Hezbollah fighters. (AFP)

The United States is deferring the removal of certain Lebanese citizens from the country, President Joe Biden said on Friday, citing humanitarian conditions in southern Lebanon amid tensions between Israel and Hezbollah.

The deferred designation, which lasts 18 months, allows Lebanese citizens to remain in the country with the right to work, according to a memorandum Biden sent to the Department of Homeland Security.

"Humanitarian conditions in southern Lebanon have significantly deteriorated due to tensions between Hezbollah and Israel," Biden said in the memo.

"While I remain focused on de-escalating the situation and improving humanitarian conditions, many civilians remain in danger; therefore, I am directing the deferral of removal of certain Lebanese nationals who are present in the United States."

Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah have been trading fire since Hezbollah announced a "support front" with Palestinians shortly after its ally Hamas attacked southern Israeli border communities on Oct. 7, triggering Israel's military assault in Gaza.

The fighting in Lebanon has killed more than 100 civilians and more than 300 Hezbollah fighters, according to a Reuters tally, and led to levels of destruction in Lebanese border towns and villages not seen since the 2006 Israel-Lebanon war.

On the Israeli side, 10 Israeli civilians, a foreign agricultural worker and 20 Israeli soldiers have been killed. Tens of thousands have been evacuated from both sides of the border.