Angry Lebanese protest ongoing lockdown amid looming poverty
Many Lebanese are growing more concerned about how to make ends meet as the country edges more toward economic collapse, made worse by the coronavirus pandemic and a complete lockdown.
BEIRUT — The specter of poverty is haunting the majority of the Lebanese — be they poor or wealthy — as they struggle to buy food and basic necessities amid worsening living conditions resulting from a complete lockdown and night curfew that started Jan. 7 and is scheduled to remain in place until Feb. 1, albeit with some exceptions.
On Jan. 11, the Supreme Defense Council declared a state of public emergency and imposed a round-the-clock curfew between Jan. 14 and Jan. 25. The lockdown was again extended Jan. 21 until Feb. 8, as the number of new coronavirus cases exceed 6,000 a day with more than 70 deaths in a 24-hour period.
Hospital wards dedicated to treating COVID-19 patients are currently full, and the intensive care units are operating at full capacity.
The lockdown should relieve the burden on health-care workers as the number of patients in hospitals decreases. The spike in the number of cases is the result of the reopening of nightclubs during the end of year holidays.
