Coronavirus: the epidemic starts again, Lebanon is reconfigured until Monday

Text by: RFI Follow

With less than 890 confirmed cases and 26 deaths, Lebanon is a good student in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic. But the slackening with the beginning of the progressive deconfinement on April 27, and the repatriation of thousands of Lebanese from abroad, some of which did not respect the quarantine instructions, relaunched the contaminations.

Publicity

With our correspondent in Beirut, Paul Khalifeh

In an attempt to curb the spread of the disease, the Lebanese authorities have decided to confine the country again , from this Wednesday. And it will be total until Monday, May 18. It could even be extended if the contamination curve is not reversed.

The Lebanese can only leave their homes when it is absolutely necessary. Restaurants, cafes and other economic activities, which had once again been authorized in the context of deconfinement, will be suspended. Gatherings in public and private places prohibited.

The hospital and health, food, agricultural and industrial sectors are exempt from this closure. The army and the police are responsible for enforcing these instructions and offenders will be fined or brought to justice.

Crowded cafes

These very strict measures were decided after the registration of 109 cases in four days, while at the end of April, no new contamination had been detected for several days.

The increase in cases is due to non-respect for social distancing and barrier gestures with the onset of progressive deconfinement. However, the Lebanese had shown remarkable discipline for more than two months. In recent days, and despite repeated warnings from officials, restaurants and cafes were crowded, the seaside ledges and public squares were crowded. Churches and mosques were again allowed to receive the faithful at the end of last week.

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• Lebanon
• Coronavirus
• Confinement
• Health and Medicine

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