Coronavirus: Lebanon, bloodless, resists the pandemic

Text by: Paul Khalifeh

Despite modest means and an unprecedented economic and financial crisis, Lebanon, with 911 confirmed cases and 26 deaths, appears to be a good student in the fight against the coronavirus.

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From our correspondent in Beirut,

The first case of coronavirus in Lebanon was detected on February 20. The young woman tested positive returned from a pilgrimage to the city of Qom, in Iran, a Shia holy place visited every year by thousands of Lebanese.

The news is of great concern. The country, shaken by a protest movement since October 17, 2019, is already plunged into the most serious economic and financial crisis in its history. Plowing under a public debt of 92 billion dollars, or 170% of the GDP, the State is bankrupt and is preparing to suspend the payment of its obligations. The Lebanese pound continues to tumble against the US dollar and the prices of consumer products are soaring. Importing medical equipment is becoming increasingly problematic due to the shortage of dollars, one illustration of the crisis that erupted in the fall.

However, the population and part of the political class do not realize the danger. The origin of the first confirmed case provides an opportunity for certain political figures to demand the suspension of air links between Lebanon and Iran. Social networks ignite against "  planes of death  ", an expression used in a tweet by the Druze leader Walid Joumblatt in allusion to the cases imported from Iran but also from Italy.

Christian leader Samir Geagea strongly criticizes Prime Minister Hassan Diab and the Minister of Health close to Hezbollah, Hamad Hassan, threatening them with criminal proceedings for their management which he considers calamitous of the health crisis.

There are rumors of infected patients being transported from Iran for treatment in Lebanon. Mr. Geagea is referring to an article on a site called Le Monde hosted in Israel, according to which a Hezbollah-owned hospital in the southern suburbs of Beirut is hosting sick Iranian officials from Covid-19. This information has been denied by the management of the establishment. No one is talking about it today.

Quick and graduated government response

Despite the smear campaigns it has been targeted by its political opponents and the modest resources at its disposal, the government reacted quickly and set up a graduated response. The decision to close schools and universities was taken early on February 29, when the number of confirmed cases did not exceed the fingers of both hands and that no deaths had yet been recorded. Less than a week later, the restaurants and places of leisure are closed and on March 15, five days after the first death, the "general mobilization", which imposes a total confinement of the whole population is decreed, coupled six days later at a curfew from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. On March 18, Lebanon closed its borders and isolated itself from the rest of the world.

A health strategy was also put in place quickly. "  Lebanon has 140 hospitals, 15,000 beds, or 3 beds per 1,000 inhabitants, and 300 doctors per 100,000 inhabitants, figures higher than those of certain developed countries ," explains Dr. Riad Khalifé, former director of care of the Ministry of Health. There are also highly specialized departments, doctors and competent paramedical professionals  ”.

However, it is around public service, long decried, that the government articulates its plan. "  The 32 government hospitals have 3,200 beds but have always been neglected,  " says Dr. Khalifé. The hospitalization of patients with Covid-19 is centralized in the government hospital in Beirut, one of the largest in the country. The treatments are fully paid for by the State.

The medical and health personnel show exemplary dedication despite the precarious working conditions. Very quickly, they won the confidence and sympathy of the people who paid them a vibrant tribute by organizing fundraisers for their benefit. On March 29, the Lebanese, confined to their homes, greet with thunderous applause , hiss and whistles these unknown soldiers, on the front lines in the fight against the disease.
The government's strategy is to slow the progression of the pandemic to avoid overloading the health system. “  We need resuscitators and respirators. Of the 1,500 devices available in Lebanon, only 500 can be dedicated to Covid-19 patients  , ”explains Dr. Charaf Abou Charaf, president of the Order of Physicians, to RFI.

After the political bickering, and after the first days of floating, a collective awareness arises. Officials, the media, men of religion, everyone is doing their part to raise awareness. The hashtag #RestezChezVous invades the web and the television spots explaining the means of prevention are looped.

Parties mobilize, expatriates repatriated

Known for their legendary indiscipline, the Lebanese demonstrate, surprisingly, a remarkable sense of responsibility. “  A good part of the population has respected social distancing and barrier gestures. This made it possible to avoid the worst and to contain the spread of the virus at the very beginning of the pandemic,  ”comments Dr Abou Charaf.

In mid-April, a month after the start of confinement, the number of confirmed cases rose to 658 and that of deaths to 21. After doubts and accusations, the action of the government is greeted even by its political opponents . MP Sethrida Geagea, whose husband threatened to bring the Minister of Health to justice, pays tribute to the actions of Hamad Hassan, "  despite political differences  ".

In addition to government action, the major political parties are investing in the fight against the coronavirus. Hezbollah claims to have mobilized some 25,000 volunteers and the Free Patriotic Coutant, founded by the President of the Republic Michel Aoun, deploys teams on the ground.
At the same time, the government is organizing the repatriation of thousands of expatriates stranded in Europe, Africa and the Arab countries.

The response to the coronavirus is carried out in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), which is regularly informed of the measures adopted and the development of the disease.

Lebanon's success in the fight against the coronavirus is underlined by the international press , which notes that this good performance comes at a time when the country is going through serious economic and financial difficulties.

The challenges are indeed colossal. All sectors are affected by the cessation of economic activity, unemployment explodes, the Lebanese pound loses 200% of its value against the dollar, the prices of consumer products soar. The Lebanese, 50% of whom now live below the poverty line , are struggling to make ends meet.

The government must fight at the same time on the health, economic and social fronts. To alleviate the hardships of the most disadvantaged, aid of 400,000 Lebanese pounds ($ 266 at the official rate, $ 100 on the black market) is distributed to more than 100,000 families. A comprehensive economic and financial reform plan , including restructuring of the banking sector, has also been adopted and negotiations have started with the IMF to try to get $ 10 billion in aid.

Relaxed discipline, increased contamination

The first signs of slackening of the discipline appeared at the end of April, with the start of gradual deconfinement, spread over five stages. The protest movement, which had recorded a break for several weeks, is picking up again. Protesters, particularly in the northern city of Tripoli, vandalize bank branches. In violent clashes with the police are dead and dozens injured.

The rallies multiply, vigilance decreases and the Lebanese show an indiscipline qualified  by the leaders as "  unconscious  " and "  irresponsible ".

The cases of contaminations started to rise again, with a peak of 34 new patients tested positive on May 7, so the curve started to go down. Prime Minister Hassan Diab reports 109 new cases in four days, an increase of almost 15%.

"  The rise in cases is alarming and worrisome," says Dr. Abou Charaf. It is due to the relaxation of the discipline in certain regions, in particular in Tripoli and other areas of the North, and the non-respect of quarantine by many expatriates. The Lebanese returnees are a time bomb  . " The doctor noted "  anomalies  " in the PCR tests carried out by Lebanese mainly from African countries. "  It is not normal that 40 to 50 expatriates have tested negative elsewhere and become positive in Lebanon,  " he said. Of the 34 cases confirmed on May 7, 25 were from Nigeria. However, the doctor said that he was generally satisfied with the management of the crisis and stressed that 1,000 to 1,500 screening tests were performed daily, which is "  a good average  ".

Among other problems that risk compromising the fight against the spread of the coronavirus, Dr. Abou Charaf mentions the "  Palestinian camps and those of the Syrian refugees  ". Lebanon has been home to nearly 250,000 Palestinians since 1948, half of whom live in 12 camps, and more than one million Syrian refugees. 

On April 22, a first case was detected in the Palestinian camp of Galilee, near Baalbeck, in the eastern Bekaa plain. Since then, five other people have tested positive. These camps are narrow and densely populated, therefore social distance is hardly applicable there. The appearance of a coronavirus outbreak in these places would have serious consequences.

"  The UNWA (United Nations Office for Palestinian Refugees) claims to have taken preventive measures and the UN agencies assure that the situation in the Syrian refugee camps is under control. We hope so,  ”added the doctor, who is a member of the crisis unit set up by the government to fight the pandemic.

Total closure of the country for four days

In an effort to slow the progression of the disease, the authorities decided, on May 12, the total closure of the country for a period of five days. An extreme measure justified by the Prime Minister by "  laxity in certain regions and a certain laxity, as well as the lack of responsibility on the part of certain citizens  ". It is a question of saving the "  exploit  " achieved by Lebanon in the face of the disease.

Saturday, May 16, the symbolic bar of 900 patients was crossed but the number of deaths, which is 26, has not increased since May 8.

On Sunday, the Prime Minister announced the partial reopening of the country and the return to the deconfinement plan from Monday, May 18. "  We must remain vigilant, preserve social distancing and respect barrier gestures ," he said. I don't want this phase to turn into a nightmare.  Hassane Diab added that the most affected regions or neighborhoods will be isolated to prevent an explosion of cases.

Sunday evening, a few hours after the announcement of the end of the 5-day reconfinement, demonstrators gathered on the expressway of the "ring" near downtown Beirut, the center of protest, to protest against the deterioration of the economic situation.

In Lebanon, the crises overlap and the solutions seem distant.

►  Read also: In crisis, Lebanon ready to float its currency to obtain IMF assistance

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→  The geopolitical consequences

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• Coronavirus: the response, country by country
• Lebanon
• Coronavirus
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