LOCKDOWN IN LEBANON AS HOSPITALS RUN OUT OF BEDS
▶ Covid-19 also leads to low turnout in Jordanian election and new curfews in Iran
Lebanon will be in full lockdown from Saturday until November 29 to contain the spread of Covid-19, caretaker Prime Minister Hassan Diab announced yesterday.
The country has a shortage of intensive care beds, creating concern that people in critical condition will be unable to receive the medical attention they need, he said.
Lebanon has recorded 95,355 coronavirus cases and 732 deaths but the real umbers are believed to be much higher.
Mr Diab urged the public to comply with safety measures, and said the lockdown could be extended if they fail to do so.
The head of the General Labour Union, Bechara El Asmar, gave a warning on Monday that the effects of a complete lockdown “will be catastrophic for workers and economic activities”.
Day labourers cannot afford to stay at home, he said. In Jordan, meanwhile, turnout in yesterday’s election was low, despite poll workers taking precautions.
They distributed gloves, masks and pens and enforced social distancing. Voters who are in isolation after exposure to the virus were allowed to cast ballots at the end of the day. The kingdom, which has a population of about 10 million, reported 5,665 new cases of the coronavirus on
Monday, bringing its total to nearly 121,000. It has recorded 1,386 deaths.
The UAE is planning for its “final recovery” from the Covid-19 pandemic, and a renewed call was made to the public yesterday to work with authorities to drive down infection rates.
Dr Saif Al Dhaheri, spokesman for the National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority, said the country was well placed to overcome the outbreak thanks to its proactive approach to the global health crisis.
Iran yesterday imposed a night-time curfew on restaurants and non-essential businesses in Tehran and 30 other cities.
The measures will be in place for a month to keep hospitals from becoming overwhelmed and to slow the worsening outbreak, which has killed more than 39,202 – the highest toll in the Middle East.