Lebanon: Nationwide lockdown to be imposed November 14-30 /update 35

Event

Caretaker Prime Minister Hassan Diab announced on Tuesday, November 10, that a nationwide lockdown is to be imposed from Saturday, November 14 through November 30, as the country aims to stem the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19). The capital Beirut's Rafic Hariri International Airport (BEY) and sea and land border crossings will remain open during the lockdown, along with pharmacies and supermarkets. Vital sectors and food delivery will remain exempt from the lockdown also. Caretaker Health Minister Hamad Hasan stated on Tuesday that partial lockdowns have not worked in slowing down the spread of COVID-19 effectively enough, and too much strain is being placed on the health services. 

Nationwide, pubs and nightclubs remain closed and social gatherings are banned. Social distancing regulations should continue to be observed and face masks should be worn in public areas.

Travelers at BEY are required to provide a negative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test prior to entering the country and take a second test on arrival. Travelers are required to self-isolate until test results are received, with restrictions varying slightly depending on the country of origin. Lebanese officials extended a general mobilization order and a national health state of emergency until December 31. The order allows the government to implement preventive measures to help counter the disease. Demonstrations and gatherings of any type remain banned.

As of November 10, there have been 95,355 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 732 associated fatalities in Lebanon. Further international spread of the virus is to be expected.

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.