Welcome to the Frontpage
Lebanon to shut down again for 4 days
by arabnews.com -- NAJIA HOUSSARI -- BEIRUT: Lebanon’s government on Tuesday ordered the “full closure” of the country for four days, starting Wednesday night, as it seeks to ward off a coronavirus resurgence after easing some restrictions. The rise in new infections follows a drop in cases to zero last week. “This achievement is at risk of collapsing” because some people have not complied with the guidelines, Prime Minister Hassan Diab was quoted as saying during a Cabinet meeting. He said the government will re-evaluate its original five-stage plan for gradually reopening the economy. Hospitals, as well as the food and agriculture sectors, are excluded from the closure. Interior Minister Mohammed Fahmi said: “During the lockdown days, evacuation flights of Lebanese from abroad wishing to return will be completed.” But Dr. Abdul Rahman Al-Bizri, infectious disease specialist and member of the National Emergency Committee on COVID-19, told Arab News that the high number of infections is due to “chaos abroad during the process of repatriation of Lebanese wishing to return … and the chaos inside as result of the lack of follow-up.” He said: “The full-closure step is worthless if the government doesn’t come up with a plan by Monday to contain the epidemic.” |