Since last Sunday, April 12th, Lebanon has recorded a total of 43 coronavirus (COVID-19) cases, 1 new death, and 22 recoveries. The total of infections since the outbreak began in the country is 673 as of the time of writing. The recoveries are now 102 in total, and the fatalities are 21.
The latest data of the Ministry of Public Health shows that the active infections are 550, 27 of which are severe cases.
As of the time of writing, 20,929 tests have been conducted in Lebanon, and there are 2,545 individuals quarantined in hospitals across the country.
COVID-19: What’s happening in Lebanon?
Tangible progress
Between April 6th and 13th, Lebanon recorded 91 new cases of the disease. Hence, judging by the latest updates, the weekly infection rate seems to have dropped almost by half, this week. This is a good sign of progress, considering the daily infection numbers are low and gradually dropping while those of recoveries are rising.
New curfew start time
On Sunday, Interior Minister Mohammad Fehmi released a circular that changed the curfew schedule in Lebanon. The nighttime curfew will now be active between 8 PM and 5 AM of every day.
Expatriates in Morocco want to return
The NNA reported that Ziad Atallah, the Lebanese Ambassador in Morocco, recently said that 150 Lebanese expatriates wish to be transported back to their home country soon, 80 of whom are able and willing to pay the fees of their return.
A new locally-made ventilator
The Lebanese Holy Spirit University of Kaslik announced on Saturday, April 18th, that it successfully manufactured and tested a simple ventilator that “respects international standards and complies with engineering and medical specifications.”
Good news from Hariri Hospital
Also on Saturday, Rafik Hariri University Hospital announced in its daily COVID-19 report that it recorded no new infections on that day. It also said that it had no new severe cases among the patients in its isolation unit.
Lebanon received new medical supplies
On Thursday, April 16th, Qatar donated medical supplies to assist Lebanon in combating the pandemic. In the presence of Health Minister Hamad Hasan, the Ambassador of Qatar in Lebanon said the Qatari gift “expresses the brotherly relations between the two countries.”
UNIFIL distributed supplies in the South
As reported by the NNA, UNIFIL personnel recently distributed medical supplies and equipment in some southern Lebanese municipalities. The UNIFIL forces donated a total of around 12,000 pieces of protective equipment including medical gloves, masks, suits, and hand sanitizers.
Lebanon received a $500,000 donation
Merck Sharp & Dohme (MSD), an American multinational pharmaceutical company, recently donated half a million dollars, in cash and medicinal drugs, to the Lebanese healthcare sector. This comes in response to Prime Minister Hassan Diab’s request for international support to help Lebanon combat the disease.
New virtual health services
To help spread awareness and keep citizens up to date on the pandemic, the Health Ministry launched a Whatsapp alert service this week.
In a similar initiative, the Lebanese American University started its “Coronavirus Telecare,” through which people can ask questions related to the disease as well as get their symptoms checked.
We have a dedicated coronavirus section where you can find the latest news/updates about the pandemic in Lebanon, inform yourself with WHO-verified resources, and track the number of cases in Lebanon in real-time. Click here.
