The government has extended school holidays to enable students to get vaccinated. (Credit: Nicolas Tucat/AFP)
BEIRUT — The government’s health committee, led by Health Minister Firass Abiad, on Wednesday made a series of decisions, including a curfew for the unvaccinated, in response to the rising numbers in COVID-19 cases in Lebanon and the worldwide spread of the coronavirus’ new variant, Omicron, ahead of the winter holiday season.
Here’s what we know:
• The government will impose a curfew from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. between Dec. 17 and Jan. 9 for anyone who has not received at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose or a negative PCR test in the last 48 hours.
• The committee also decided to make full vaccination mandatory for all public sector employees as well as employees in the education, health and tourism sectors as of Jan. 10. Those who are unvaccinated will be required to take a PCR test twice a week at their own expense.
• The decisions also include extending the winter vacation for students of schools and universities from Dec. 16 to Jan. 10 in order to give schools more time to vaccinate students. Originally the vacation was scheduled for Dec. 22 to Jan. 7.
• The ministerial committee also decided on new measures for people arriving in Beirut’s airport starting Jan. 1, including registering on the electronic platform designed by the Health Ministry and obtaining a health pass to enter Lebanon.
• In addition, under the new measures, starting Dec. 10 bars and restaurants will be prohibited from admitting customers that have not had at least a single vaccine dose or a negative PCR test result in the previous 48 hours. Abiad asked security forces to be strict about regulating violations in bars and restaurants across the country.