Lebanon began a 25-day nationwide lockdown Thursday to limit the spread of the coronavirus as infections hit a new record in the tiny Mediterranean nation and patients overwhelm the health care sector.
The lockdown is the third in Lebanon since the first case was reported in late February. It closes most businesses and limits traffic by imposing an odd and even license plate rule on alternating days. It also reduces the number of flights at the country’s only international airport.
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Lebanon began a 25-day nationwide lockdown Thursday to limit the spread of the coronavirus as infections hit a new record in the tiny Mediterranean nation and patients overwhelm the health care sector.
On Wednesday, Lebanon broke its single-day record of new coronavirus infections on the eve of the lockdown with 4,166 cases reported in 24 hours.
In Beirut’s commercial Hamra district, many shops were closed Thursday morning as police patrols drove by to make sure the lockdown was implemented. Police checkpoints fined motorists who violated the lockdown orders.
The new lockdown comes as Lebanon was already struggling with an unprecedented economic and financial crisis that has caused it to default on debt and sent its local currency plunging, losing 80% of its value to the dollar.
In Egypt, Coptic Orthodox Christians were barred from attending Mass on Christmas Eve as the country fights a surge in coronavirus cases.
A woman runs on the empty waterfront promenade as the country begins a three-week lockdown to limit the spread of coronavirus amid a post-holiday surge in the past 10 days in Beirut, Lebanon, Thursday, Jan. 7, 2021. (AP PhotoBilal Hussein)
As of Thursday, a daily 6 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew takes effect that will last until Feb. 1.
Police issue fines to civilians violating health safety measures on the waterfront promenade as the county starts a new, three-week lockdown amid a record post-holiday surge of new coronavirus cases that has overwhelmed the national health sector in Beirut, Lebanon, Thursday, Jan. 7, 2021. (AP PhotoBilal Hussein)
On Wednesday, Lebanon broke its single-day record of new coronavirus infections on the eve of the lockdown with 4,166 cases reported in 24 hours.
It came after a holiday season in which tens of thousands of visitors flying into the country to celebrate Christmas and New Year's. Lebanon also reported 21 new coronavirus deaths Wednesday, bringing the number of total coronavirus cases in the small Mediterranean country to nearly 200,000, with more than 1,500 deaths.
“The best way to limit the spread is to stay at home,” outgoing Health Minister Hamad Hassan told the local LBC TV station.
A street sweeper cleans the empty waterfront promenade as the country begins a three-week lockdown to limit the spread of coronavirus amid a post-holiday surge in the past 10 days in Beirut, Lebanon, Thursday, Jan. 7, 2021, Lebanon. (AP PhotoBilal Hussein)
In Beirut’s commercial Hamra district, many shops were closed Thursday morning as police patrols drove by to make sure the lockdown was implemented. Police checkpoints fined motorists who violated the lockdown orders.
First responders in the country hit by a severe economic crisis say they have been transporting nearly 100 patients a day to hospitals that are now reporting near-full occupancy in beds and intensive care units.
Lebanon saw new infections begin to increase during the summer, following a massive explosion in Beirut’s port in August that shook the city and its heath sector, killing over 200 people and injuring 6,000. August’s numbers increased by over 300% from July as a result, and they have been climbing since.
Police stand guard on the waterfront promenade as the country begins a three-week lockdown to limit the spread of coronavirus amid a post-holiday surge in the past 10 days in Beirut, Lebanon, Thursday, Jan. 7, 2021. (AP PhotoBilal Hussein)
The new lockdown comes as Lebanon was already struggling with an unprecedented economic and financial crisis that has caused it to default on debt and sent its local currency plunging, losing 80% of its value to the dollar.
The shortage of hard currency in Lebanon has severely curbed imports to the import-dependent country, including medicine and medical supplies. Many medicines are missing at pharmacies as the crisis worsens.
The U.S. dollar was trading on the black market Thursday at about 8,800 pounds, a 5% drop from last week and there are concerns that the lockdown will further hammer the economy that the World Bank projected will contracted 19.2% in 2020 alone.
A police officer issues fines to owners of vehicles that violate the odd and even license plate rule on alternating days as the country begins a three-week lockdown to limit the spread of coronavirus amid a post-holiday surge in the past 10 days in Beirut, Lebanon, Thursday, Jan. 7, 2021. (AP PhotoBilal Hussein)
In Egypt, Coptic Orthodox Christians were barred from attending Mass on Christmas Eve as the country fights a surge in coronavirus cases.
The church canceled celebrations around the country and allowed only a limited number of clerics at Midnight Mass on the eve of Orthodox Christmas. Copts celebrate Christmas according to the Julian calendar, meaning it falls on Jan. 7.
Egypt has reported nearly 145,000 confirmed coronavirus cases, including nearly 8,000 deaths. However, the actual number of COVID-19 cases in Egypt is thought to be far higher, mostly due to limited testing and uncounted patients treated at home or in private hospitals.
Police officers stand at a checkpoint to inspect cars that violate the odd and even license plate rule on alternating days as the country began a three-week lockdown to limit the spread of coronavirus amid a post-holiday surge in the past 10 days in Lebanon, Thursday, Jan. 7, 2021. (AP PhotoBilal Hussein)
A woman runs on the empty waterfront promenade as the country begins a three-week lockdown to limit the spread of coronavirus amid a post-holiday surge in the past 10 days in Beirut, Lebanon, Thursday, Jan. 7, 2021. (AP PhotoBilal Hussein)