Lebanon set for new virus lockdown

BEIRUT: Lebanon was set for a new lockdown Friday after a spike in coronavirus infections.

Record numbers of cases in recent weeks have piled pressure on Lebanon’s health services which are also struggling to cope with thousands injured by a deadly blast at Beirut’s port.

The two week closure adds to the woes of a country that was in dire economic crisis even before the coronavirus and the massive Aug 4 explosion which killed 181 people and left thousands homeless.

“What now? On top of this disaster, a coronavirus catastrophe?” said 55- year- old Roxane Moukarzel in Beirut.

“Economically closing up the country is not good, as people want to sell, but let them lose out a little instead of getting sick and having to be carted off to hospital,” said the mother of one, who trained as an architect.

Authorities fear Lebanon’s fragile health sector would struggle to cope with a further spike in Covid- 19 cases, especially after some hospitals near the port were damaged in the explosion.

They have said the new lockdown measures, which include a nighttime curfew from 6.00pm to 6.00am, will not affect the clean- up or aid effort in areas ravaged by the blast.

Lebanon’s stay-at-home order from Friday is only the latest such decision after a monthslong lockdown from midMarch which exacerbated the economic crisis.

“There’s no work. People have no more money.

“They have nothing to eat,” said carpenter Qassem Jaber, determined to keep his business open to help people rebuild their homes in Beirut.