Will the COVID-19 pandemic shake the already fragile health security? Or will its return be less dangerous than before? It will certainly not be easy this time, as the health crisis today is more deteriorated than in the past. How will hospitals and people fight the returning pandemic after its absence? The pandemic has returned, imposing a heavy burden on people's daily lives, who thought its waves had passed permanently and the suffering had disappeared. However, the new wave has weighed down on their lives in the height of summer, beginning to affect them day by day, while there has been no official warning from the Ministry of Health, leaving matters unattended. Just as the country was beginning to breathe a sigh of relief, the new wave hit hard, emerging at a very dangerous economic, financial, and social timing, making it difficult even to buy medicine, let alone cover hospital bills. Is everyone ready for a new wave of the pandemic, or will people treat it in its new form as just a "regular cold" and continue on with their lives? What about the readiness of hospitals as cases with severe and new symptoms begin to be recorded? All medical data indicate the onset of a new wave of the pandemic; however, there are no statistics on the numbers, as people are resorting to rapid testing, with PCR tests no longer being their primary choice, obscuring the actual incidence rates. Hospitals in Nabatieh, like all hospitals in Lebanon, closed their COVID-19 wards after the end of previous agonizing seasons. However, circumstances may push towards reopening these wards or utilizing isolation rooms if necessary. Sources in the Ministry of Health confirmed to "Nidaa al-Watan" the return of the pandemic to Lebanon, stating that numbers are increasing daily due to the large number of tourists and discussions about a new wave of COVID-19 sweeping the world. The sources point out that there is currently no preventive plan, but everyone is cautiously awaiting the consequences of the new wave, where the World Health Organization warns that it will be highly dangerous.
Salima did not expect that the severe head pain, backache, dizziness, and other symptoms she experienced were due to COVID-19 until she conducted a rapid test that confirmed her infection. She is not alone; many others have contracted COVID-19 without knowing the source of their infection. She describes having endured difficult days, with excruciating pains that did not leave her, stating that the new version of COVID-19 is very severe with symptoms that many may not be able to bear. New symptoms for the August 2023 variant include severe dizziness and an inability to touch the body due to extreme pain.
While hospitals cry out due to their inability to provide medical care and a shortage of medical supplies, the COVID-19 wave has compounded the problem. Ironically, treatment medications are available, but only to those who can afford them due to the high prices, leading people, as in the past, to turn toward alternative remedies like herbal infusions and traditional country food to avoid buying expensive medications.
Dr. Hassan Wazni, director of Nabih Berri University Hospital, does not hide the rising number of cases but assures that the situation is under control. He notes that the COVID-19 ward in the hospital is still ready, but he doubts the progression of cases or the intensification of symptoms, describing the current wave's symptoms as "strong flu," with most infections being treated at home, suggesting there is no need for concern about the current wave, which he attributes to the weather and climate changes. He indicates that the cost of treating COVID-19 is similar to that of treating any inflammation, which is acceptable, and that new patients are being treated at home.
But the question remains: Are citizens ready for a new wave of COVID? And what about the tourism and summer season? It is certain that things will continue smoothly, and there will not be an accurate count of infections unless hospitalization is required, at which point the new wave will be reconsidered.
