In light of the alarming and out-of-control coronavirus situation, Lebanon has just declared a public state of emergency and will go under a total and complete nationwide shutdown.
For 11 days starting Thursday, January 14th until the 25th, Lebanon will go into a state of public emergency with a full 24-hour curfew.
The official decision was made following the recommendations of the Higher Defense Council, during an emergency meeting at Baabda Palace on Monday, to make the current lockdown even stricter and with fewer exceptions.
While it was decided not to close the airport as of yet, arrivals to Lebanon must quarantine for a week in hotels selected by the Ministry of Tourism.
These measures are being implemented in response to the massive post-holiday surge of infections during which Lebanon broke its daily record at over 5,000 cases registered in a matter of 24 hours.
Hospitals across the country can no longer treat coronavirus patients. On Saturday, the head of Bouar Governmental Hospital, Dr. Andre Kozaily, announced they were treating COVID-19 patients in cars because the hospital had reached its maximum capacity.
Unfortunately, some people are still not taking this situation as serious as it should. Some were seen panic-shopping before the shutdown in overcrowded supermarkets without wearing face masks.
Lebanon has registered over 200,000 coronavirus cases and 1,590 deaths (at the time of writing) since the first case was ever recorded in February.
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