The General Directorate of General Security announced that its director-general, Maj. Gen. Abbas Ibrahim, has tested positive for coronavirus (COVID-19).
Maj. Gen. Ibrahim was in the United States this week, holding meetings with US officials who were recently described as positive. Before leaving Washington, he took a COVID-19 test before discovering that he had caught the virus.
As a result, the official has been forced to postpone his return to Beirut and cancel his visit to France, which was scheduled to follow his US visit, the General Security statement said.
Additionally, US authorities have asked all officials who have been in contact with Maj. Gen. Ibrahim since Saturday to undergo a COVID-19 test and isolate themselves for 14 days as a preventive measure.
The American media company Politico said that US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs David Hale, in addition to several other US officials in the Department of State and other departments of the Executive Branch, isolated themselves after the fact.
The Lebanese official was reportedly in the US to discuss matters related to Syria- and Iran-held Americans. It is believed that there are at least 4 American hostages currently held in Syria, including journalist Austin Tice, who was kidnapped in 2012.
According to local media, Maj. Gen. Ibrahim is in good health. Contrary to his US visit, the purpose of his now-canceled visit to Paris is unknown.
