COVID-19 response – Lebanon bi-monthly situation report (18 September 2020)

*This report is prepared by OCHA, on behalf of and in collaboration with UN agencies and partners involved in COVID-19 response efforts in Lebanon. The report covers the period from 2-15 September 2020. *

Situation

• Between 2 and 15 September, an additional 7,718 people were infected with the COVID-19, bringing the total number of reported cases since 21 February 2020 to 26,083, of whom 60 per cent are male and 40 per cent female. This includes 824 healthcare workers, mostly working in institutions dealing with the COVID-19 response. There have been 259 deaths, of which 70 per cent are male. About 94 per cent of confirmed cases were recorded among residents.

• Lebanon is in phase four of the outbreak, where wider community transmission is observed. The Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) is no longer counting chains of transmissions, however, contact tracing and testing activities continue.

• During the reporting period, 214 additional Palestine refugees were confirmed as positive with COVID-19. A total of 654 Palestine refugees, 345 (52 per cent) of whom are living in camps, have been confirmed as positive with COVID-19, including 16 deaths, between 21 February and 15 September.
As of 15 September, 180 people were in home-isolation, 20 in hospitals, and 12 in Sibline isolation centre. Since the beginning of the outbreak, 729 Syrian refugees and 13 refugees from other nationalities have tested positive for COVID-19, leading to four deaths, with an increase of 324 cases during the reporting period. So far, five cases have been detected in five informal settlements, with no new cases detected during the reporting period.

• On 8 September, the government further eased the lockdown measures; private associations such as pubs, nightclubs, social event halls, Casino du Liban, public markets and cinemas opened, while indoor pools and Luna parks and playgrounds shall remain closed. The curfew was amended from 22:00-06:00 to 01:00-06:00.