Lebanon registers record COVID-19 cases in blast aftermath
With social distancing relaxed and hospitals under strain, Lebanon reported a record 309 new cases and seven deaths from the virus Tuesday.
Lebanon has recorded a surge in new coronavirus infections that health officials warn could worsen with hospitals still reeling from last week’s explosion in Beirut.
On Tuesday, the Health Ministry confirmed a record 309 new cases and seven deaths, bringing the country’s total to 7,121 cases and 87 deaths. Health Minister Hamad Hassan has warned the rate of infection is likely to increase in the coming days.
The small Mediterranean country has reported a relatively low number of cases compared to its neighbors, but a spike in cases in late July prompted officials to reimpose restrictions on bars, places of worship, nightclubs and other venues. The aftermath of the blast will only compound the COVID-19 threat, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said in an Aug. 10 report.
