Lebanon’s health minister warned on Thursday that the country’s airport would only be reopened when returnees stick to quarantine measures, highlighting the case of a woman who infected 42 people with Covid 19 after arriving recently.
“When people and expatriates sit at home … then we can talk about reopening the airport, especially that a woman returnee who was carrying the virus transmitted it to 42 people in [the southern town of] Barja,” said Hamad Hassan after a Cabinet session, quoted by the state-run National News Agency.
The pandemic’s outbreak in Lebanon has been relatively contained so far but officials fear that the cash-strapped country will not be able to handle a major outbreak.
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Coronavirus in the Middle East
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A closed souvenir shop in front of the treasury site in the ancient city of Petra is seen empty of tourists after the government closed all tourist facilities in the country amid concerns over the spread of the coronavirus in Jordan. Reuters -
A mask-clad worker walks near a mural depicting Dubai Ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid riding a horse as a jockey, along Al Mustaqbal Street in Dubai. AFP -
Iraqi Karate-coach Asif Mohamed (right) gives a Karate lesson to a young man it his house in Baghdad, Iraq. All training centers for Karate are closed in Baghdad. EPA -
The ancient city of Petra is seen empty of tourists after the government closed all tourist facilities in Jordan. Reuters -
A mask-glad young anti-government protester faces members of the security forces during a demonstration in the southern Iraqi city of Basra, despite the ongoing threat of the coronavirus. AFP -
People visit Kugulu public garden, in Ankara, Turkey days after the government lifted a series of restrictions. AP Photo -
A demonstrator clad in sunglasses and mask looks on during a protest against Israeli plans to annex parts of the occupied West Bank, in the West Bank city of Nablus. AFP -
Young Palestinian girls sit at the window sill in Gaza City amid the coronavirus pandemic crisis. AFP -
Young Palestinians play at the seashore in Gaza City amid the coronavirus pandemic. AFP -
A mask-clad Palestinian boy takes part in the noon (Dhuhr) prayers along with other worshippers, at mosque in Gaza City. AFP -
Members of the Tutunamayanlar's team (The Outcasts) and Turkish actor Dogu Demirkol prepare to record an episode, in Beykoz, in the outskirts of Istanbul. Turkey is known for its obsession with TV dramas -- which are also a massive export success -- and not even the coronavirus restrictions stopped the team on Tutunamayanlar (The Outcasts) from keeping the show going. AFP -
A woman sewing colourful bedouin-styled face masks, at the city of El-Arish the capital of Egypt's North Sinai province, to be sold online to customers as part of coronavirus prevention. AFP -
Colourful bedouin-styled face masks made by women members of the association, at the city of El Arish the capital of Egypt's North Sinai province, to be sold online to customers as part of coronavirus prevention. AFP -
A man who is in contact with people who have contracted the coronavirus wears a protective face mask as he receives through iron bars the free medicines provided by the ministry of health, at a medical centre in Cairo, Egypt. Reuters -
A street vendor wearing a mask sells roses in Sidon, Lebanon. Reuters -
A shoe polisher and his son wait for customers on Hamra Street, Beirut, Lebanon. EPA -
A Yemeni volunteer wearing a protective suit sprays disinfectant at a neighborhood amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic in Sanaa, Yemen. EPA -
An Iranian man walks in front of a pastry shop in the capital Tehran. AFP
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According to the Health Ministry’s latest figures, the novel coronavirus has infected 1,306 people in Lebanon and killed 28.
The government shut Beirut’s international airport on March 18 to contain the spread of the pandemic, but thousands of Lebanese stranded abroad have been able to re-enter the country via a special repatriation programme.
The airport's reopening was announced for June 8 but has been repeatedly pushed back. Media adviser to Mr Hassan, Reda Al Moussawi, told The National that the Cabinet, which will convene on Friday, would decide when the airport would reopen and that "there is no date until now". He said the Health Ministry was awaiting the results of PCR tests on a recent batch of returnees.
Mr Hassan said that the Cabinet would decide on whether Lebanese returning from abroad should undergo a compulsory quarantine or whether positive cases should be transferred to government hospitals.
The Health Ministry said on Wednesday that it had conducted 88,000 PCR tests across Lebanon so far and continued distributing free masks in co-operation with municipalities.
“The results showed that there is no local outbreak of the epidemic so far,” the ministry said.
The ministry announced last Monday that it would distribute one million masks across the country. In parallel, the Internal Security Forces started fining anyone not wearing a mask 50,000 Lebanese pounds, or roughly $16.
