Araji: Lebanese Not Abiding by Quarantine, State of Emergency Must Be Declared

MP Assem Araji of the Parliamentary Health Committee called on the government on Saturday to declare a state of emergency over coronavirus because the "Lebanese are not abiding by the terms of home quarantine."

Araji voiced his calls in a contact with LBCI TV station after the health ministry declared a rise in the number of people infected with the virus.

The Health Ministry said in its Saturday report that 24 new cases of coronavirus were registered raising the number to 187.

On Friday, heavy traffic and pedestrian movement was witnessed in some impoverished areas of the northern city of Tripoli despite the government’s lockdown order over the coronavirus crisis.

The agency said the majority of people on the streets were not wearing masks or gloves.

On Sunday, the government declared a two-week state of “general mobilization,” closing the country’s air, land and sea ports of entry and ordering the closure of all non-essential public and private institutions.

Citizens and residents were meanwhile asked to stay home unless it is extremely necessary to go out.