Lebanese caretaker Health Minister Hamad Hasan sounded alarm on Friday that the country is approaching a second wave of coronavirus, calling all facilities in the health sector to join efforts in order to confront the pandemic.
“We remain at the beginning of the road, and we are approaching a second wave of the pandemic, yet there are no hospital beds available,” Hasan was quoted as saying by the National News Agency.
“Our health system, in its public and private sectors — without exception, must seriously prepare to double the number of beds and provide the necessary services for our community and our citizens,” he added.
The minister was talking as he chaired a meeting aimed at discussing a program to train health staff at governmental hospital to treat COVID-19 patients. The twinning program was previously launched by the Lebanese Health Ministry and aimed at joining efforts by eleven government hospitals and five private university hospitals, according to NNA.
“This program continues to provide support to government hospitals. After significant progress has been made in providing logistical support, securing equipment, and filling a large part of the needs of these hospitals, this academic training comes to support government hospitals with the needed nursing staff,” the minister explained.
Hasan stressed, meanwhile, the need for initiating coronavirus departments by private hospitals in order to be prepared to confront the new wave of the pandemic.
Lebanon registered on Thursday a record number of nearly 2,000 new coronavirus infections, with eight related deaths.
Source: Al-Manar English Website and NNA
