Diab: Lebanon Goes through Dire Situation, Lockdown Expected

On Monday, the head of the Lebanese caretaker government, Hassan Diab, expressed his concern about the epidemiological situation in the country, in light of the outbreak of the Coronavirus (COVID-19).

He warns of the negative of the absence of vacant beds in a number of intensive care rooms, pointing out that the country is expected to enforce closure for two or three weeks.

During the meeting of the ministerial committee, Hassan Diab said: "We have applied all possible measures at the state level, but the commitment of the people was not positive. Unfortunately, there are citizens who are not convinced till now of the danger of this pandemic."

At the outset of the meeting of the specialized committee to follow up on the Coronavirus, Diab stressed: "Confronting the pandemic cannot be implemented through theoretical measures and procedures in the street."

He added that his government  can close the country and can impose a curfew, but we cannot pursue every one."

He affirmed that Lebanon has become "in a different position," saying: "In the beginning, there was harmony between the state’s measures and the citizens’ response to the measures, but today the situation is completely different."

He continued: "There are no vacant beds available in a number of intensive care rooms, and therefore we are facing a very difficult situation and we need exceptional and strict measures and strict implementation of measures."

He revealed: "Facing this pandemic requires community awareness that interacts seriously to measures and procedures."

The head of the Lebanese caretaker government expected that the specialized committee to follow up on the Coronavirus this week would recommend that the country be closed for a period of two or three weeks, amid an alarming increase in Coronavirus infections in the country.

On the other hand, Lebanon suffers deeply from complicated financial, social, and economic problems.