Abiad addresses COVID-19 surge, monkeypox testing

BEIRUT — Caretaker Minister of Health, Firas Abiad said in a press conference on Monday that the resurgence of COVID cases observed in recent weeks is due to a new variant that is more contagious and to the low level of vaccination in the country.

Here’s what we know:

  • “The rising rate in positive COVID-19 tests, which has gone from 5 percent for weeks to 11 percent lately, is due to a new, more contagious variant and low herd immunity in Lebanon,” Abiad said. He noted that the vaccination rate has not yet exceeded 45 percent.

  •“As long as the hospital situation is under control, we will not resort to a lockdown. But we are moving towards strengthening prevention measures,” he said, before calling on anyone infected to isolate.

  • "Citizens must continue to receive doses of the COVID vaccine, and vaccination centers are found all throughout the country," the ministry announced on Twitter on Monday. The fourth dose of the COVID vaccine is now available for anyone over the age of 12, and six months after receiving the third dose. People suffering from immunodeficiency can be prescribed this fourth dose four months after the third dose.

  • Addressing the subject of monkeypox, Abiad asserted that "the monkeypox detection test now exists in Lebanon, and we have prepared special units in hospitals, which are different from COVID units.” Last Monday, the ministry announced that the first case of monkeypox in Lebanon ,coming from abroad.

  • On the surge of hepatitis A cases that Lebanon recently had, Abiad idsa that the cases have decreased, yet a resurgence of cases is still feared.