The Minister of Public Health in the caretaker government, Firas Al-Abyad, announced, during his presentation of the epidemiological indicators related to the Corona epidemic recorded in Lebanon, which show an increase in the number of infections, similar to what is witnessed in neighboring countries and various countries of the world, that “the epidemiological surveillance teams in the Ministry of Public Health recorded an increase in the daily rate.” For injuries to one hundred and eight (108) cases, compared to less than forty cases per day in the previous stage.
Al-Abyadh stated, “The percentage of positive tests rose to 12.7%, following it ranged between 5.5% and 6% at the beginning of last December. As for the number of patients in hospitals, it is seventy-one Corona patients, of whom seventeen are in intensive care.” Four on respirators.
And he believed that “it is clear that there is a wave of Corona that has reached Lebanon in conjunction with the increase in the mixing rate during the holidays, as well as the high probability of infection during the winter season. The situation is still under control, and we expect the number of infections to decrease later, as happened in previous waves.”
Al-Abyadh refuted the Ministry of Public Health’s measures, explaining that they “include the increase in corona and influenza infections, which are very active this season and record a high number of cases in our society. The procedures are as follows:
– Maintaining the epidemiological surveillance program at the highest level of preparedness to keep pace with the epidemiological reality and its development
The Ministry of Public Health provided PCR tests in a large number of government hospitals and laboratories at a reduced cost (one hundred and fifty thousand Lebanese pounds).
– Requesting government and private hospitals to increase their readiness and re-equip a number of departments that were designated for Corona and which were finally closed.
Securing the vaccine, as the Ministry of Public Health obtained a French donation of the new vaccine, Bivalent, which provides double protection once morest the Omicron and the old mutant. The invitation is directed to the most vulnerable people among the elderly and those who have incurable and immune diseases to obtain the vaccine, noting that the Ministry, in cooperation with the Lebanese Red Cross, had carried out a vaccination campaign in various homes for the elderly once morest the Corona and cholera epidemics.
He explained that “the current epidemiological situation does not necessitate mandatory measures towards society. Rather, the instructions required of everyone follow personal protection methods, starting from wearing a mask to taking precautions in gatherings, especially closed ones. As for those who show symptoms of runny nose and cough, they must self-isolate and not mix.” And if they are forced to leave the house, they must wear a mask.
He added, “The ministry asked health institutions to re-examine the prevention measures followed with their workers, and the need for them to obtain corona and influenza vaccines with the aim of increasing the rate of protection required for patients who will go to these institutions,” noting that “there is no tendency to close educational institutions at the present time while keeping The situation is under surveillance, as well as with regard to the airport, where it is found, in contact with the World Health Organization, that there is no need currently to re-do the PCR examination, provided that the matter is reviewed if changes occur in the epidemiological reality and new mutations appear.