Lebanon begins all-day curfew to stem coronavirus uptick

Lebanon begins all-day curfew to stem coronavirus uptick

Lebanon begins all-day curfew to stem coronavirus uptick

an hour ago

Police bike officers patrol an area in Beirut as the country starts a new lockdown on Thursday. Bilal Hussein/AP

Gulf Today Report

Lebanese hunkered down indoors on Thursday as authorities began enforcing an 11-day nationwide shutdown and round the clock curfew on Thursday, in a bid to slow down a sharp uptick in novel coronavirus cases.

For the first time, residents were required to request a one-hour permit to be allowed to leave the house for "emergencies, hoping to limit the spread of coronavirus infections spinning out of control after the holiday period.

READ MORE

Get vaccinated Sheikh Mohammed and Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed tell residents

The country has enforced the heightened restrictions, a 24-hour curfew until January 25, including going to the bakery, pharmacist, doctor, hospital or airport.

A man carries gas cylinders in Sidon as the Lebanese rush to stock up before a total lockdown. AFP

In the capital, a trickle of trucks and cars ventured out onto the roads on Thursday, after state media reported caretaker health minister Hamad Hasan was admitted to hospital for treatment for Covid-19 the previous evening, according to the Associated Press.

Authorities came under pressure to take a tougher approach after the