"COVID-19 is back," and warnings have returned about a new wave expected to be more contagious and spread faster. This reality is confirmed by the numbers of infections in Lebanon and other countries around the world, some of which have begun to ring the alarm. Dr. Mira Jbeili, a specialist in infectious and microbial diseases, attributes the rise in COVID-19 cases to neglect of precautions under the assumption that the pandemic phase has ended. She noted in an interview with MTV that "the actual numbers are much lower than reported, due to the lack of PCR testing as before whenever someone felt symptoms. Additionally, a significant number of infections do not show severe symptoms, especially in those who have received the vaccine."
She adds that the current or upcoming phase is not like what we experienced previously, "as a good percentage of people have received the vaccine in its various doses, and others have contracted the virus once, twice, or even three times, which plays an important role in reducing the severity of symptoms and avoiding difficult and dangerous scenarios." Jbeili continues, "Most coronavirus centers and units in hospitals are now closed, with a reduced need for hospital care due to virus infections, unlike what happened before."
Preventive measures remain essential in this phase, which witnesses a kind of coexistence with the virus; lockdown is out of the question, and limiting the spread of COVID-19 has become a personal responsibility for every citizen. Here, Jbeili asserts that the known preventive measures are sufficient to curb the spread of COVID-19, emphasizing the need to wear masks in enclosed spaces even after vaccination while maintaining physical distancing and hand sanitation. In open areas, masks can be removed if maintaining a certain physical distance from others, provided that all doses of the vaccine have been received, according to new recommendations.
The virus has not ended, but there will be no return to the dangerous scenario. Nevertheless, adherence to preventive measures remains necessary without any exaggeration or fear, especially during the promising tourist season that Lebanon has long awaited.
