Lebanese authorities are enforcing an 11-day nationwide shutdown and round the clock curfew, hoping to limit the spread of coronavirus infections spinning out of control after the holiday period, AP reports.

For the first time, residents were required to request a one-hour permit to be allowed to leave the house for “emergencies”, including going to the bakery, pharmacist, doctor, hospital or airport.

Authorities came under pressure to take a tougher approach after the country’s hospitals ran out of beds with daily infections reaching an all-time high of 5,440 cases last week in the country of nearly six million people.

Opinion

Editorial

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