Libya: Presidential Council announces four-day lockdown from August 26 /update 18

Event

The Tripoli-based Presidential Council announced that a nationwide 24-hour lockdown will be implemented for four days from 18:00 (local time) on Wednesday, August 26, due to the continued spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19). The lockdown will be followed by a ten-day 21:00 to 06:00 curfew until September 9. Although ostensibly a response to the rising number of COVID-19 cases in Tripoli, the restrictions come at a time of increasing tensions within Government of National Accord (GNA) controlled areas and follow several days of anti-government protests in Tripoli and other cities over living conditions. The Tripoli-based government is expected to use the lockdown measures as justification for a ban on all demonstrations and the dispersal of any unauthorized gatherings in the near term

The Presidential Council previously declared a 24-hour lockdown on August 7 and 8 in response to a surge in COVID-19 cases and introduced other measures, including the mandatory use of face masks in shops and other public places. However, the enforcement of theses measures has so far been inconsistent. 

As of August 26, there have been 11,834 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Libya, with 210 associated deaths. Further international spread of the virus is to be expected over the near term. 

Context

The first case of COVID-19 was reported on December 31 and the source of the outbreak has been linked to a wet market in Wuhan (Hubei province, China). Since then, human-to-human transmission of the virus has been confirmed.

Cases of the virus have been confirmed in numerous countries and territories worldwide. On March 11, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the global outbreak a pandemic. Virus-screening and quarantining measures are being implemented at airports worldwide, as well as extensive travel restrictions.

The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, dry cough, and tiredness. Some patients may experience other symptoms such as body pains, nasal congestion, headache, conjunctivitis, sore throat, diarrhea, loss of taste or smell or a rash on skin or discoloration of fingers or toes. These symptoms (in most cases mild) appear gradually. Generally, most patients (around 80 percent) recover from the disease without being hospitalized.

Advice

Measures adopted by local authorities evolve quickly and are usually effective immediately. Depending on the evolution of the outbreak in other countries, authorities are likely to modify, at very short notice, the list of countries whose travelers are subject to border control measures or entry restrictions upon their arrival to the territory in question. It is advised to postpone nonessential travel due to the risk that travelers may be refused entry or be subject to quarantine upon their arrival or during their stay.

To reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission, travelers are advised to abide by the following measures:

• Frequently clean hands by applying an alcohol-based hand rub or washing with soap and water.
• When coughing and sneezing, cover mouth and nose with a flexed elbow or tissue; if used, throw the tissue away immediately and wash hands.
• If experiencing a fever, cough, difficulty breathing, or any other symptoms suggestive of respiratory illness, including pneumonia, call emergency services before going to the doctor or hospital to prevent the potential spread of the disease.