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)
TT

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.



The Israel-Hezbollah War by the Numbers

People look through the rubble of buildings which were levelled on September 27 by Israeli strikes that targeted and killed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, in the Haret Hreik neighborhood of Beirut's southern suburbs, on September 29, 2024. (Photo by AFP)
People look through the rubble of buildings which were levelled on September 27 by Israeli strikes that targeted and killed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, in the Haret Hreik neighborhood of Beirut's southern suburbs, on September 29, 2024. (Photo by AFP)
TT

The Israel-Hezbollah War by the Numbers

People look through the rubble of buildings which were levelled on September 27 by Israeli strikes that targeted and killed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, in the Haret Hreik neighborhood of Beirut's southern suburbs, on September 29, 2024. (Photo by AFP)
People look through the rubble of buildings which were levelled on September 27 by Israeli strikes that targeted and killed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, in the Haret Hreik neighborhood of Beirut's southern suburbs, on September 29, 2024. (Photo by AFP)

A ceasefire has taken effect between Israel and Lebanon-based Hezbollah after nearly 14 months of cross-border fire.
The ceasefire agreement calls for a two-month initial halt in fighting. It would require Hezbollah to end its armed presence in a broad swath of southern Lebanon, while Israeli troops would return to their side of the border.
The conflict began Oct. 8, 2023, a day after Hamas attacked southern Israel, as Hezbollah fired rockets into Israel in solidarity with Hamas and Israel returned fire. Israel launched a more widespread bombardment of Lebanon two months ago, followed by a ground invasion.
Here’s a look at the conflict by the numbers:
The dead
More than 3,800 people in Lebanon have been killed, many of them civilians. More than 80 Israeli soldiers have been killed, and 47 civilians in Israel.
The damage
Damage in Lebanon is estimated at $8.5 billion including at least 100,000 homes. In Israel, around 5,683 acres of land have burned.
The displaced
An estimated 1.2 million people are displaced in Lebanon and over 46,500 in Israel.
The strikes
Israel has made around 14,000 strikes in Lebanon, while Hezbollah has made more than 2,000 in Israel.