This was announced by the Minister of Public Health in the interim government, Firas Al-Abyad, 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 was observed in neighboring countries and various countries of the world, that “the epidemiological surveillance teams of the Ministry of Public Health have recorded an increase in daily attendance”. the previous stage.
Al-Abyadh said: “The percentage of positive tests has risen to 12.7%, after fluctuating between 5.5% and 6% at the beginning of last December. As for the number of patients in hospitals, these are seventy-one Corona patients, of which seventeen are in intensive care.” Four on respirators.
And he considered 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 thereafter, as happened in previous waves”.
Al-Abyadh refuted the measures of the Ministry of Public Health, explaining that “they include the increase in corona and flu infections, which are very active this season and record a high number of cases in our society. The procedures are as follows :
– Maintain the epidemiological surveillance program at the highest level of preparation to keep pace with the epidemiological reality and its development
The Ministry of Public Health has provided PCR tests in a large number of government hospitals and laboratories at a low cost (one hundred and fifty thousand Lebanese pounds).
– Asking government and private hospitals to increase their readiness and re-equip a number of Corona-designated wards that were eventually closed.
Guarantee the vaccine, as the Ministry of Public Health has obtained a French donation of the new vaccine, Bivalent, which provides double protection against Omicron and the old mutant. The call is aimed at the most vulnerable people among the elderly and those with incurable and immune diseases to get the vaccine, noting that the Ministry, in collaboration with the Lebanese Red Cross, had carried out a vaccination campaign in several homes for the elderly against the epidemics of Corona and cholera.
He explained that “the current epidemiological situation does not require 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. For as for those showing 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 has asked health institutions to review the prevention measures followed with their workers and the need for them to obtain corona and flu vaccines with the aim of increasing the required protection rate for patients who will go in these institutions ”, noting that “there is currently no tendency to close educational establishments while keeping the situation under surveillance, also with regard to the airport, where it is noted, in contact with the World Health Organization, that there è it is not currently necessary to redo the PCR exam, provided that the issue is reviewed if there are changes in the epidemiological reality and new mutations appear.
