Starting from today, Lebanon began a strict 11-day lockdown and new travel restrictions to limit the spread of the coronavirus.
Daily infection rates had hovered above 3,000, hitting an all-time high of over 5,000 last week. On Friday, daily infection cases reached their highest, recording 5,440 cases.
The Lebanese latest measures, which include a 24-hour curfew until January 25, come after some hospitals started to run out of beds to treat coronavirus patients.
The new measures came after officials and health professionals warned that hospitals were quickly running out of beds, leaving many scrambling for treatment, even though a partial lockdown has been in place since January 7.
Under the new measures, citizens are prevented from being on the public roads, as well as the closure of all departments, public and private institutions, universities, schools, nurseries, docks, and sports stadiums.
Furthermore, non-essential workers are barred from leaving their homes, and supermarkets will operate delivery services only.
On Wednesday, Lebanon's caretaker Minister for Public Health, Hamad Hassan, was admitted to St. George Hospital after contracting the Coronavirus.
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