Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


Lebanon to Reinstate Total Lockdown Amid Spike in Infections

Associated Press

   BEIRUT - Lebanese rushed to food stores to stock up on vegetables and
   basic items, hours before the government was to reinstate a four-day
   nationwide lockdown on Wednesday, following a spike in reported
   coronavirus cases.
   The government called on the public to stay home, starting Wednesday
   evening and until dawn on Monday, reversing measures earlier this month
   that phased out restrictions imposed since mid-March.
   The new shutdown is a rare reversal and comes as many countries,
   seeking to balance economic and health care needs, have started easing
   restrictions despite grave concerns of a setback.
   Restaurants will close down after they partially opened 10 days ago,
   and food deliveries will be halted altogether. The country's top Sunni
   Muslim cleric announced that communal Friday prayers in mosques will
   also be halted, only a week after they were allowed to resume at
   limited capacity.
   The public health crisis comes at a particularly turbulent period for
   Lebanon. The country is facing an unprecedented economic and financial
   crisis, putting pressure on a population that is seeing its savings
   erode. The currency, pegged at a fixed rate to the dollar since 1997,
   has lost 60% of its value in a few weeks.
   Unemployment had been rising even before the coronavirus restrictions
   as economic growth and investment dropped. Officials say 45% of the
   population now lives in poverty. The government has asked the
   International Monetary Fund for financial assistance, and talks over
   the rescue plan are due to begin with the IMF later Wednesday.
   Lebanon began a phased-out plan to relax a national lockdown late last
   month that allowed small businesses to reopen, and shortened a
   nighttime curfew.
   But after a few days of single-digit cases detected, there was a spike
   in reported infections this week, including among Lebanese returning
   home during repatriation programs who did not observe quarantine
   measures.
   Lebanon, a country of just over 5 million, has so far been able to
   contain the virus, recording only 870 infections, including 117
   repatriated Lebanese, and 26 deaths after imposing early lockdown
   measures and strictly implementing restriction on movement.
   But over the last few days, government and health officials criticized
   carelessness and lax implementation of social distancing and other
   restrictions among the public, warning that the relaxation of
   restrictions would be reconsidered.
   Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia said Wednesday it will go into a full lockdown
   during the days of celebration that follow the Muslim holy fasting
   month of Ramadan.
   The Interior Ministry said the lockdown would be in effect from May 23
   through May 27 -- days mark the Eid al-Fitr holiday that comes at the
   end of Ramadan. That holiday typically sees families invite loved ones
   over for meals and go out to eat and drink during the day.
   And the United Arab Emirates, a federation of seven sheikhdoms, said it
   will offer free coronavirus testing for all citizens, beginning next
   week. Foreigners in the country with coronavirus symptoms, pregnant
   women, those over 50 and those in contact with those who fell ill with
   COVID-19 also will be among those able to be tested for free.
   Private beaches at hotels also are beginning to reopen in Dubai, even
   as the number of confirmed cases and deaths continue to rise in the
   country.
   In Tehran, mosques temporarily reopened Tuesday night after about two
   months closure, for a special night of prayers in Ramadan.
   A mosque at Tehran university campus in central Tehran hosted
   worshippers for the "Qadr," or ''Night of Destiny," a special night of
   prayers in the Muslim holy month.
   Officials in Iran had closed down all mosques and holy sites across the
   country in mid-March, at the height of the coronavirus outbreak, to
   lower the risk of the contagion. The virus has killed more than 6,700
   people and infected more than 110,000 people in Iran so far.
   "Obviously, everyone is feeling great tonight. It has been a tough time
   especially for mosque-goers and those who love praying, " said Reza
   Abbasi, a worshipper who was praying along with his family on the
   campus of Tehran university.
   Upon entering the campus, a group of medical students disinfected hands
   and shoes of worshippers and gave away face masks. Worshippers also had
   their body temperatures taken by infrared thermometers. Spots were
   marked on the mosque floor for worshippers to sit down while practicing
   proper physical distancing.