Hassan: Lebanon Faces Last Chance to Beat Coronavirus as Cases Spike

Caretaker Health Minister Hamad Hassan warned on Monday that Lebanon has reached the peak of coronavirus phase 2, adding that only few intensive care beds are still unoccupied, the National News Agency reported.

"We are at the peak of phase 2, ICU beds are full and only a few beds remain vacant," Hassan said in televised remarks.

The Minister explained that COVID-19 disease had spiraled out of control following the August 4 Beirut port blast.

“We don’t have the luxury of time. All hospitals in Lebanon are required to participate responsibly in order to help citizens,” he added.

Moreover, Hassan revealed that he had asked the central bank's governor to provide him with accurate figures pertaining to subsidized medicine.

Lebanon put 111 villages and towns nationwide on lockdown for a week after a series of record novel coronavirus daily infection rates.

From early Sunday and for eight days in the villages listed, residents were to "remain at home", and "wear a mask covering their mouth and nose if forced to go out", the ministry said in a statement.

State institutions and places of worship would close, but health centres and delivery services would be exempted, it added.

Cases have spiked in the aftermath of a massive explosion at the Beirut port on August 4 that killed more than 190 people and overwhelmed the capital's health services, with thousands of wounded.

The country has recorded 44,482 Covid-19 cases since February, including 406 deaths.

Authorities fear that a major spike would overwhelm the country's fragile health sector.