Lebanon Extends Night Curfew as Virus Cases Reach 845
Arab World
Asharq Al-Awsat
Lebanon registered 36 new coronavirus cases on Sunday, increasing the tally to 845, as the Interior Ministry extended a curfew from 7 pm to 5 am. There were no deaths in the past 24 hours, the Health Ministry said, keeping the toll at 26. According to the Ministry, 234 patients have recovered. COVID-19 cases have been steadily increasing since Thursday, prompting Health Minister Hamad Hassan to say that he would seek the cabinet’s approval for a total lockdown for 48 hours if infections continued to rise. If implemented, the lockdown will aim to conduct field searches and mass testing of areas where significant cases have been registered. The Interior Ministry also said Sunday that the extension of the curfew was the result of “lack of commitment by many citizens to preventive and public safety measures.” A nationwide curfew beginning at 7 pm was first implemented in March to curb the pandemic. The curfew was later cut to 9 pm as infections dropped. But the statement lamented that the “situation is getting worse.” Despite the increasing cases, Lebanon’s churches welcomed on Sunday worshippers for the first time in nearly two months. Most churches were closed to the public to limit the spread of the virus, but Lebanese authorities have started easing restrictions that were imposed in March. Churches and mosques are now permitted to welcome worshippers for congregational prayers on Sundays and Fridays as long as capacities are limited and other safety guidelines including social distancing measures are respected. Many worshippers entering churches around Lebanon on Sunday were sprayed with disinfectant and had their temperatures checked before they were allowed in to sit at a distance from others.
from Asharq AL-awsat https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/2277051/lebanon-extends-night-curfew-virus-cases-reach-845
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