Lebanon Poised to Declare Emergency over Coronavirus

W460

Lebanon is poised to declare a state of emergency to prevent further spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus, media reports said.

“Lebanon is inclined to declare an official state of emergency for 15 days during which institutions still working will be closed, except for those belonging to vital daily sectors,” An-Nahar newspaper reported on Sunday.

“It will not reach the extent of a curfew as applied in China and other regions of the world,” the daily added.

The decision will be taken in meetings for the Higher Defense Council and Cabinet that will be held at 2:30 pm and 4:00 pm respectively.

President Michel Aoun is also scheduled to address the nation at the beginning of the Cabinet session.

Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah had on Friday openly called on citizens and residents to observe home isolation as Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Jebran Bassil warned Saturday that “we’re on the verge of reaching the spread of the pandemic.”

“Medical capabilities might lack the capacity to offer care to critical cases, that’s why a general quarantine, or a state of emergency, seems to be inevitable. Although it might be painful, the aim is to save the biggest number of lives,” Bassil said.

The Grand Serail had on Saturday witnessed a series of security and syndical meetings to take the necessary precautions.

The meetings involved the bread, supermarket, water, health, insurance and agricultural industries as well as distributors, industrialists and security forces.

Lebanon has so far confirmed 99 coronavirus cases including three deaths, according to a Health Ministry statement issued at noon Sunday.

Educational institutions, restaurants, nightclubs, pubs, cafes, exhibitions, parks, cinemas, malls and other gathering venues have been closed since several days as part of the measures against the virus.

Lebanon has also banned flights from eleven hardly hit countries, with critics lamenting that the decision came too late.

SourceNaharnet
Comments 6
Thumb thepatriot 15 March 2020, 12:07

So irresponsible... the world is shutting down... but no!
We kept Iranian planes comming, and the government is sleeping instead of taking radical measures... What are they aiting for? You need to act upstream!!!

Thumb Geralt 15 March 2020, 12:07

As usual, FPM and Ebola bring us pestilence and then give us holy instructions on how to get a hold on it!
Ride it up the ass they say...

Thumb Geralt 15 March 2020, 12:12

“Medical capabilities might lack the capacity to offer care to critical cases, that’s why a general quarantine, or a state of emergency, seems to be inevitable, although it might be painful, the aim is to save the biggest number of lives,” Bassil said.
Screw you asshole it is because of your 10 years policy that most of the hospitals were at their lowest in medical supplies and were warning about it way before Ebola brought Corona from Iran; so now I only pray God (that doesn't exist) that he takes someone dear to you and makes you feel really sorry about it.
But no, you're a psychopath and can't feel nor emotions nor are you able to recognize them in people.

Thumb ansarullah 15 March 2020, 15:22

God bless hezbollah and its sister the fpm for protecting us from all viruses imported from Iran.

Thumb roflmfao 15 March 2020, 17:12

Dudes.. good.. they're poised.. I can't wait... à vos marques.. prêts.. phartez!..

Thumb chrisrushlau 15 March 2020, 18:02

Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah had on Friday openly called on citizens and residents to observe home isolation as Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Jebran Bassil warned Saturday that “we’re on the verge of reaching the spread of the pandemic.”

I think the people feel now that Hezbollah can no longer refuse to take a normal role in national life given its representation of the majority of the population. Article 24's assignment of half of parliamentary seats to "Christians" is void on its face. Time for an election; in the meantime, get busy.