Lebanon Sees Major Spike in Coronavirus Cases

Lebanon on Thursday recorded at least 69 new COVID-19 coronavirus cases, which is a significant uptick compared to its usual daily tally.

In a statement, the Health Ministry said 36 cases were recorded among residents and 27 among repatriated Lebanese expats. It added that 34 of the local cases have been traced to known sources.

In the evening, the National News Agency said 18 more cases were recorded among the residents of Bekaa's Majdal Anjar and six among the residents of the Chouf town of Mazboud, which raises the country's daily tally to 87.

LBCI TV meanwhile reported that 19 of the locally infected individuals are Bangladeshi workers. Seventeen other Bangladeshi workers had also tested positive in recent days. Two buildings in which the workers live in Beirut's Ras al-Nabaa areas have since been isolated.

Other local infections include four in Akkar's Jdeidet al-Qaytaa, one in Akkar's Bebnin, one in the Bint Jbeil district town of Shaqra and one in the Marjeyoun district town of Qabrikha.

As for the expat cases, 25 were recorded among the passengers of the Kuwait plane and two other expats turned out to be infected after re-testing, LBCI added.

The new cases raise the country's tally to 1,048 and come amid the fourth phase of a five-phase plan to reopen the economy.