Health Minister Firas Abyad announced that the positivity rate for COVID-19 tests has risen to 14.2%, up from around 5.5% to 6% at the beginning of December. Over the last seven days, 182 cases have been reported according to the Ministry of Health. This resurgence leads to discussions about reinstating mask-wearing and preventive measures, which most people have abandoned. This is occurring alongside the emergence of a new variant named "Kraken," recognized as one of the more aggressive Omicron variants.
Necessity for Precautions
Chairman of the Parliamentary Health Committee, MP Bilal Abdullah, confirmed to "Asas" that the data regarding COVID-19 was not surprising, as an increase in cases was anticipated. Currently, the situation does not pose a significant danger. He reiterated the call to adhere to preventive measures, especially avoiding large gatherings and wearing masks.
He noted that France has provided new bivalent vaccines that offer dual protection against both Omicron and the original variant. However, there are no guidelines yet for administering more than four vaccine doses, and personal protective measures are necessary.
In the same context, sources from the Ministry of Health urged a return to wearing masks to prevent both COVID-19 and influenza, given the continual rise in COVID-19 cases and a new wave appearing in some countries. The World Health Organization has stated that it lacks data on the severity of the XBB.1.5 variant, or "Kraken," on those infected, and has not seen evidence that it has mutated further since its discovery. However, its rapid spreading capability raises concerns.
The sources continued to "Asas": "What China did by lifting mandatory quarantine for travelers from abroad was notable, ending a three-year self-imposed isolation, but is now facing a new COVID-19 wave. This is clear evidence that we need to coexist and adapt, as we have previously stated, to this pandemic by adhering to preventive measures and wearing masks."
Reza: Emphasis on Precautions
Professor Raif Reza, head of the Lebanese Medical and Social Assembly, advised the Ministry of Health to "conduct PCR tests for arrivals from China and Europe, and to tighten preventive measures, at a minimum using masks in crowded spaces due to the unsatisfactory international COVID-19 situation."
He said, "There are fears of not proactively addressing the situation through precautions and COVID-19 PCR tests for those arriving through the airport, and bearing the consequences of increased infections and the difficulty of treatment given the challenging health and economic situation, alongside the absence of accurate COVID-19 statistics and the mixing of cases with seasonal influenza."
He concluded: "The importance of precautions remains crucial in this regard, and we fear that the experiences of biological warfare may have influenced the resurgence of COVID-19 from China, which was the origin of its global spread."
Latest COVID-19 Statistics
Johns Hopkins University reported on Sunday that the global count of confirmed COVID-19 infections has reached 644,127,405. The university detailed that the total number of deaths caused by the virus worldwide has risen to 6,706,297.
