Minister of Public Health, Dr. Hamad Hassan, on Wednesday launched a health alert service on WhatsApp, in both Arabic and English, to keep the public informed about the latest Coronavirus developments. The Minister also launched an innovative program prepared by LU (Lebanese University) aimed at tracking positive Covid-19 cases or ... Read More »
People with COVID-19 may be infectious days before symptoms
People infected with the new coronavirus may start spreading the virus several days before they have any noticeable symptoms, according to a new modelling study published Wednesday. The study comes as nations have broadened restrictions aimed at curbing the epidemic, amid concerns over patients who may be infectious despite not ... Read More »
Coronavirus: G20 delays poor nations’ debt payments
Nations belonging to the G20 group of leading economies have agreed to suspend debt payments owed to them by some of the world’s poorest countries. The agreement covers money that is due to be paid to G20 governments up to the end of 2020. The aim is to help countries ... Read More »
Latest on the spread of the coronavirus around the world
Reported cases of the coronavirus crossed 2 million globally and more than 131,100 people have died, according to a Reuters tally as of 1400 GMT on Wednesday. AMERICAS – U.S. President Donald Trump’s move to halt funding to the WHO over its handling of the pandemic prompted condemnation from world ... Read More »
Lockdowns should be lifted in two-week stages to stem COVID-19 spread: WHO
Countries that ease restrictions imposed to fight the spread of the coronavirus should wait at least two weeks to evaluate the impact of such changes before easing again, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Wednesday. In its latest Strategy Update, the U.N. agency said that the world stands at ... Read More »
Trump’s halting of funds to WHO sparks worldwide rebuke
Nations and health experts worldwide reacted with alarm Wednesday after President Donald Trump announced a halt to the sizable funding the United States sends to the World Health Organization. They warned that the move could jeopardize global efforts to stop the coronavirus pandemic. At a briefing in Washington, Trump said he ... Read More »
17 New Virus Cases Recorded, Lebanon to Receive Chinese Aid
Lebanon on Wednesday confirmed 17 more novel coronavirus cases, which raises the country’s total to 658, the Health Ministry said. In a statement, the Ministry said 12 of the infections were recorded among residents and five among the expats who returned to Lebanon in recent days. It added that 941 ... Read More »
Minister Of Information After Cabinet Session: Government Shall Decide Whether To Pursue Or Temporarily Suspended Repatriation Flights
Minister of Information, Manal Abdel Samad, spoke in the wake of the Cabinet session held at the Grand Serail this Tuesday, saying: “Prime Minister Hassan Diab believes the government will have to decide whether to pursue [repatriation] flights or freeze them temporarily.” “The PM pointed out that the adopted procedures ... Read More »
China tightens Russia border checks, approves coronavirus vaccine trials
China has approved early-stage human tests of two experimental vaccines to combat the new coronavirus as the country where the virus was first detected battles to contain imported cases, especially from Russia. Russia has become China’s largest source of imported cases, with a total of 409 infections originating in its ... Read More »
Lebanon Economy to Shrink by Massive 12% This Year
The economy of Lebanon, which has defaulted on its mountain of debt, is expected to contract by a massive 12 percent this year, while Iraq, OPEC’s second-largest producer, is headed for a fall of 4.7 percent, the IMF said Tuesday. The Middle East and North Africa economy will meanwhile contract ... Read More »