Lebanon mulls 48-hour lockdown if coronavirus cases keep rising

The country began opening up last week but cases have since risen

Health Ministry staff conduct random tests for the Covid-19 disease at Imam Al-Hadi Zentrum in the Ouzai area south of Beirut. EPA

A Lebanese protester, wearing a protective mask bearing a fist, is pictured during a demonstration in the capital Beirut on April 28, 2020. AFP

A member of the Lebanese Internal Security Forces distributes protective face masks in Hamra street. EPA

Neighbours listen to music and watch laser projections from their balconies as members of the Lebanese collective "Nuage" perform from the roof of a building to entertain confined residents in their neighbourhood of Dekwaneh. AFP

Neighbours listen to music and watch laser projections from their balconies as members of the Lebanese collective "Nuage" perform from the roof of a building to entertain confined residents in their neighbourhood of Dekwaneh. AFP

Runners smile and react to having their picture taken as they run on Beirut's corniche, along the Mediterranean Sea. AP

Health Ministry staff wear protective face masks and protective suits as they wait to conduct a random tests for the Covid-19. EPA

Health Ministry staff conduct random tests for the Covid-19 disease at Imam Al-Hadi Zentrum in the Ouzai area south of Beirut. EPA

A Lebanese drummer wears a protective mask and carries a small drum as he makes his rounds waking Muslims for Suhor, the meal taken during Ramadan before sunrise prayers, amid a lockdown due to the ongoing coronavirus Covid-19 pandemic in Beirut. EPA

Medical staff at the Saint George Hospital University Medical Centre in charge of Covid-19 coronavirus patients reflections off a window as they listen to music played by a band thanking them for their efforts during the novel coronavirus pandemic. AFP

A nurse at the Lebanese hospital Notre Dame des Secours shows a heart gesture with her hands as others dance to music played by a band thanking them for their efforts. AFP

Staff of a Lebanese government hospital dance to music played by a band thanking them for their efforts. AFP

Staff members of the Lebanese American University Medical Centre-Rizk Hospital, currently dealing with COVID-19 coronavirus patients, look out from windows as they listen to music. AFP

Palestinian fighters from the Fatah movement, left, wearing masks to help curb the spread of the coronavirus, stand guard next to a Palestinian worker from UNRWA who is waiting to spray disinfectant AP

A Palestinian nurse wears protective equipment to help curb the spread of the coronavirus inside a clinic at Jalil, or Galilee Palestinian refugee camp, in Baalbek. AP

A Palestinian fighter from the Fatah movement distributes masks for people to help curb the spread of the coronavirus. AP

Palestinians wearing masks to help curb the spread of the coronavirus stand on their balcony watching the arrival of the Lebanese health minister at Jalil, or Galilee Palestinian refugee camp, in Baalbek. AP

A health worker dressed in a protective outfit walks in an alley at the Wavel Palestinian refugee camp in Lebanon's eastern Bekaa Valley. AFP

The Lebanese government reintroduced a stricter night-time curfew to stem the rise in coronavirus cases as the government warns that if numbers don’t drop they may have to return to full lockdown for 48 hours.

Accusing the Lebanese of “selfishness, blatant disregard, and indifference towards their health and the health of society,” Interior Minister Mohammad Fahmi announced on Sunday that a night curfew between 7pm and 5am would be re-instated.

In recent days, the night curfew had been enforced between 9pm to 5am as authorities eased confinement measures.

The move came a day after Health Minister Hamad Hassan warned that the lockdown could come back a week after the country began reopening workplaces and allowing people out of their homes. But a spate of new positive Covid-19 patients in recent days showed the country is far from stopping the virus for good.

“If the number of cases and results remain high, I will ask the prime minister and the government to take the decision to close the country for 48 hours in order to complete or to re-conduct tests in several Lebanese regions,” said Mr Hassan on Saturday during a field visit at the Syrian border, where he inspected a donation of thermometers from the Chinese embassy to test travellers.

Mr Hassan said that the number of new Covid-19 cases in Lebanon “jumped” by 11 on Saturday, a figure that while well below the caseloads in other countries was notably higher than in the past weeks.

In total, the virus has infected 845 and killed 26 in Lebanon, the health ministry said on Sunday.

Additionally, the Lebanese army announced on Sunday that 13 soldiers from the Military Court had tested positive for the coronavirus, without specifying when.

“All preventative and medical measures have been taken”, said the army in a statement, denying local reports that 1,200 soldiers had been placed in quarantine.

One reason for the increase in Covid-19 cases in Lebanon last week was the continued return of Lebanese living abroad via a repatriation programme – the airport has been closed to regular flights since March 18.

On Sunday, the Health Ministry said that it recorded 14 new cases of Covid19 among passengers returning from Russia, Belarus, Kuwait, and Cameroon.

A video shared on social media on Friday showing flight attendants on a Middle East Airlines (MEA) flight refusing to leave one seat empty between worried passengers caused outrage in Lebanon.

In the past, returnees have told The National that one seat was left empty between passengers to comply with social distancing measures. MEA said this justified the high price they are charging for tickets.

Lebanon slowly started lifting confinement measures last week, with restaurants and hairdressers now allowed to operate at reduced capacity.