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Health Minister Firass Abiad warned that Lebanon is “ready to make the decision to close the country” if the rate of the spread of COVID-19 continues to accelerate. He said the decision of whether to enforce a lockdown was being studied and that the possible duration was being weighed against the negative effects it would have on the country’s already critically ailing economy. Abiad’s warning comes as coronavirus case numbers soar amid a busy holiday season and given the presence of the highly contagious Omicron variant. Lebanon recorded 4,537 and 4,290 cases on Thursday and Friday, respectively — more than 1,000 more cases than were recorded on Wednesday. Abiad also acknowledged yesterday that December’s preventive measures have proven insufficient to curb the virus’ spread. Since mid-December, restrictions meant to limit the spread of COVID-19 have been in force, including the requirement to present proof of vaccination or a negative PCR test issued in the last 48 hours at all tourist establishments, including bars and restaurants. Concerns of noncompliance with these measures led the Interior Ministry to warn last week that security forces would crack down on violators. On Saturday, the Interior Ministry said that 176 fines had been issued on New Year’s Eve against those in violation of COVID-19 restrictions, including 13 food and beverage establishments that were closed for 24 hours for failing to comply with the 50 percent capacity rule.

Negotiations with the International Monetary Fund will be stepped up in anticipation of a visit from the fund to Lebanon in January, Deputy Prime Minister Saade Chami said. His comments came after a meeting with President Michel Aoun on Thursday. In November, Chami said that the Lebanese committee tasked with negotiating a financial rescue package with the IMF had reached a “unified vision” on the banking sector's losses and that Lebanon could expect a preliminary deal before the end of 2021. However, the ongoing cabinet paralysis has stalled this process. Chami said early last week that Lebanon would begin to see the results of the negotiations in January 2022 and that an “economic rescue plan” being prepared with the IMF would be sent to its board for approval.

In a tweet on New Year’s Eve, Future Movement leader Saad Hariri called for parliamentary elections to take place on time. His call came amid rumors that he would not seek re-election in the upcoming polls, now scheduled for May 15. While Future Movement MPs Sami Fatfat and Hadi Hobeiche refuted the rumors last week, a spokesperson for the party gave L’Orient Today no more information than to say that the former prime minister’s position will become clear moving forward. Though Parliament twice voted in favor of holding the polls on March 27, President Michel Aoun added his signature Wednesday to a decree already signed by the premier and the interior minister, effectively scheduling the vote for May 15.

Hassan Nasrallah will give a televised address today at 6 p.m. on the second anniversary of the assassination of IRGC commander Qassem Soleimani. The Hezbollah leader’s speech comes amid a widening dispute with long-time ally Gebran Bassil of the Free Patriotic Movement. In a televised address yesterday, Bassil said that he was not ready to end the 2006 Mar Mikhael agreement between his party and Hezbollah, but was looking to improve it in light of the current economic situation. However, he also stressed that Hezbollah’s relationship with the Amal Movement had impacted the agreement, and added that some parts of the agreement are still incomplete. Nasrallah’s speech also comes one week after President Michael Aoun, Bassil’s father-in-law and founder of the FPM, took an apparent jab at Hezbollah, saying, “Defending the homeland requires the cooperation of the army, the people, and the resistance, and the primary responsibility is for the state, which alone sets the defense strategy and ensures its implementation.”