Hassan Orders Closure of Daycares over Virus Threat

Health Minister Hamad Hassan on Saturday ordered the closure of daycare centers in Lebanon starting February 29 and ending March 8 as a precaution against the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus, the National News Agency reported.

Hassan’s move came one day after Education Minister Tarek al-Majzoub ordered the closure of all educational facilities and institutions for the same reason.

Lebanon had earlier on Friday confirmed its fourth coronavirus case, identifying the person infected as a Syrian woman.

The woman along with two Lebanese women and an elderly Iranian man are being quarantined at the Rafik Hariri state-run hospital.

The first three patients had arrived on two planes from Iran earlier this month.