Lebanon now has 133 coronavirus (COVID-19) cases in total and 4 deaths related to the epidemic, the Ministry of Public Health confirmed in its daily COVID-19 report.
The ministry stated on Wednesday, March 18th: “From February 21st until March 18th, 2020, the total of laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 cases has reached 133.”
This number includes “those diagnosed in Rafik Hariri Governmental University Hospital and those reported in other university hospitals accredited by the ministry (i.e. 13 new cases were registered yesterday).”
Furthermore, the report confirmed: “there was a reported death for a patient in his nineties who was in a critical health condition and suffering from chronic diseases.”
This brings the total of coronavirus-related deaths to 4 in Lebanon as of March 18th.
The ministry reiterated that its medical teams “continue to monitor samples from all suspected cases, as well as monitor all contacts and arrivals from countries experiencing a local spread of the virus.”
Additionally, the Health Ministry is still undergoing an epidemic investigation on some of the cases diagnosed recently. This investigation aims to identify how these individuals contracted the virus.
The statement again advised all citizens “to adhere to the strict measures issued by the official references and to stay in their houses, except when absolutely necessary.”
Yesterday, the Health Ministry confirmed 2 cases of total recovery with its announcement of 11 new laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 cases.
Lebanon has done much better than other countries in containing #COVID19 till now.
Thank you @ghi_aub #بالوعي_نواجه_الكورونا https://t.co/wGwncuDbKX— Ministry of Public Health – Lebanon (@mophleb) March 17, 2020
On a different note, from this day, March 18th, until March 29th, Beirut Rafik Hariri International Airport will cease to operate.
This temporary closure was announced a few days ago as part of the Lebanese government’s general mobilization action plan to fight the spread of the coronavirus epidemic in the country.
