Lebanon is likely heading for a new lockdown over surge in coronavirus cases. The National Health Committee recommended on Saturday a three-week lockdown to curb the increase in infections.

In an urgent meeting, the committee warned that the country is heading towards a “catastrophic” health situation, National News Agency reported.

It said that the coronavirus cases have been “dangerously increasing” on daily basis, warning that the Intensive Care Units in the hospitals were almost full.

Earlier on Saturday, Head of Lebanese Doctors’ Syndicate also warned against ‘unexpected’ surge in coronavirus infections.

Dr. Sharaf Abu Sharaf slammed what he described as citizens’ recklessness during New Year holiday, stressing on importance of imposing a new lockdown.

“Between the collapse of the health situation and the collapse of the economic situation, I consider that the health is a priority,” he was quoted by local media.

Lebanon on Thursday shattered its single-day record of new coronavirus infections, with 3,507 cases recorded.

For his part Minister of Public Health Hasan Hamad announced on Friday that that the cost of the PCR test in governmental hospital laboratories will be reduced to one hundred thousand Lebanese pounds starting from next Monday (January 4).

Source: Al-Manar English Website and NNA