Libyan Officials Warn of Virus Surge during Eid al-Fitr Celebrations

Part of an awareness campaign in the Jafara Plain on the importance of receiving the COVID-19 vaccine. (National Center for Disease Control)
Part of an awareness campaign in the Jafara Plain on the importance of receiving the COVID-19 vaccine. (National Center for Disease Control)
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Libyan Officials Warn of Virus Surge during Eid al-Fitr Celebrations

Part of an awareness campaign in the Jafara Plain on the importance of receiving the COVID-19 vaccine. (National Center for Disease Control)
Part of an awareness campaign in the Jafara Plain on the importance of receiving the COVID-19 vaccine. (National Center for Disease Control)

Libyan officials voiced concern over a possible hike in COVID-19 infections during Eid al-Fitr after the country reported a decline in cases.

Member of the Epidemiology Committee at the National Center for Disease Control (NCDC) Tarek Jibril urged all citizens to comply with health-preventive measures during the holiday.

He also said it was unlikely for the country to register the Indian coronavirus strain amid the current imposed measures.

In televised statements on Tuesday, Jibril said the country is recording an average of 315 daily coronavirus cases.

“This rate is considered low compared to the past months,” he noted.

Meanwhile, Dr. Bader al-Din al-Najjar, the NCDC Head, called on citizens to adhere to the imposed precautionary measures by maintaining social distancing. He also urged shop owners to prevent customers from gathering and oblige them to wear masks.

According to the NCDC, Libya registered 181,000 infections, including 16,7043 recoveries and 3,000 deaths.

Almost 100,000 citizens have received the first COVID-19 shot, said Najjar, pointing out that the national inoculation drive is proceeding “at an excellent pace, and will include all municipalities after Eid al-Fitr.”

Najjar further reassured people about the safety and efficacy of the vaccines, citing researches published in major international medical reports.

He affirmed that the first dose provides the needed protection to prevent death or dangerous complications from the virus.

The Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE) Campaign to support social mobilization and raise awareness on the COVID-19 vaccination, which was launched by the UNICEF in coordination with the NCDC earlier in April, is proceeding as scheduled, the Center said.



Israeli Ground Troops in Lebanon Reach the Litani River

Smoke rises as a result of an Israeli airstrike on the southern Lebanese town of Al-Khiam, as seen from northern Israel, 26 November 2024, amid cross-border hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel. (EPA)
Smoke rises as a result of an Israeli airstrike on the southern Lebanese town of Al-Khiam, as seen from northern Israel, 26 November 2024, amid cross-border hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel. (EPA)
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Israeli Ground Troops in Lebanon Reach the Litani River

Smoke rises as a result of an Israeli airstrike on the southern Lebanese town of Al-Khiam, as seen from northern Israel, 26 November 2024, amid cross-border hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel. (EPA)
Smoke rises as a result of an Israeli airstrike on the southern Lebanese town of Al-Khiam, as seen from northern Israel, 26 November 2024, amid cross-border hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel. (EPA)

The Israeli military says its ground troops have reached parts of Lebanon’s Litani River — a focal point of the emerging ceasefire.

In a statement Tuesday, the army said it had reached the Wadi Slouqi area in southern Lebanon and clashed with Hezbollah forces.

Under a proposed ceasefire, Hezbollah would be required to move its forces north of the Litani, which in some places is some 30 kilometers (20 miles) north of the Israeli border.

The military says the clashes with Hezbollah took place on the eastern end of the Litani, just a few kilometers (miles) from the border. It is one of the deepest places Israeli forces have reached in a nearly two-month ground operation.

The military says soldiers destroyed rocket launchers and missiles and engaged in “close-quarters combat” with Hezbollah forces.

The announcement came hours before Israel’s security Cabinet is expected to approve a ceasefire that would end nearly 14 months of fighting.