Lebanese authorities have isolated several towns in light of a significant increase in the number of coronavirus cases in the country.
The head of the parliamentary health committee, MP Assem Araji, said that Lebanon has lost control over the outbreak of the virus.
“It is very difficult to control it if we continue to proceed in the same way,” he said, adding: “There are procedures that have been put in place since the outbreak of the epidemic in February, including the need to wear a mask, adhere to social distancing rules and disinfection, but they are not applied properly.”
In a radio interview, Araji emphasized the need to implement preventive measures, in the absence of a vaccine at the present time.
“This is the most effective way to stop the spread,” he noted.
Caretaker Prime Minister Hassan Diab held a meeting on Friday at the Grand Serail with the ministerial committee following up on the outbreak of the pandemic. The meeting discussed “the necessary measures to face the outbreak, especially in the regions that recorded the highest rates of infections.”
The crisis cell in Fneideq in Akkar, North Lebanon, in cooperation with the municipal police, took a decision to close all entrances to the town.
Also in the North, the municipal council of Al-Qobayat announced a general closure until Sunday Oct. 4.
Lebanon’s total number of COVID-19 cases increased on Friday by 1,143 to 33,962 while the death toll went up by four to 333, the Health Ministry said.
It is the highest single-day increase since the outbreak of the coronavirus in Lebanon on Feb. 21.
