- Title: Lebanon steps up coronavirus measures following first death
- Date: 10th March 2020
- Summary: BEIRUT, LEBANON (MARCH 10, 2020) (REUTERS) RAFIK HARIRI UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL WHERE CORONAVIRUS PATIENTS ARE BEING TREATED SIGN READING (Arabic and English): CORONA EMERGENCY VARIOUS OF EMERGENCY ENTRANCE WHERE PEOPLE ARE WEARING PROTECTIVE SUITS AND FACE MASKS (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) LEBANESE CITIZEN WEARING FACE MASK, OUSSAMA, LAST NAME NOT PROVIDED, SAYING (ON HOW HE IS STAYING SAFE FROM CORONAVIRUS): "Personally, I always have alcohol disinfectant spray in my car. I spray it on before shaking hands, hygiene, hand sanitiser, I try as much as possible not to mingle with people. I don't know, I am spending all my time with people I know." VARIOUS OF HOSPITAL ENTRANCE (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) LEBANESE CITIZEN, RAMY, LAST NAME NOT PROVIDED, SAYING: "I started washing my hands more. They might say am careless (because of not taking more steps) but I feel this is a scheme that will be exposed with time. The issue is being overblown, maybe it is designed to increase the sales of some things, or to destroy an economy." VARIOUS OF MAN WITH FACE MASK WALKING VARIOUS OF ALCOHOL DISINFECTANT SPRAY, HAND SANITISER GEL AND DIGITAL THERMOMETER PLACED AT A RESTAURANT VARIOUS OF PEOPLE WALKING ON THE STREET
- Embargoed: 24th March 2020 14:40
- Keywords: Beirut Lebanon coronavirus coronavirus death economic crisis financial crisis quarantine
- Location: BEIRUT, LEBANON
- City: BEIRUT, LEBANON
- Country: Lebanon
- Topics: Health/Medicine
- Reuters ID: LVA001C4GYKHZ
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:Lebanon recorded its first death from coronavirus on Tuesday, leading citizens in the capital Beirut to take further precautions amid fear of a widespread coronavirus outbreak being added on top of the country's already severe economic problems.
Rafik Hariri Hospital, where coronavirus patients are being treated, was a flurry of activity with medical officials seen in protective suits on Tuesday.
Local broadcasters said the deceased patient had been in quarantine after returning from Egypt.
A health ministry official said the man who died was 56 and had suffered from a chronic illness.
Health Minister Hassan Hamad has warned the virus was spreading and asked Lebanese to take precautions without panicking.
Lebanon's crippling financial crisis could pose a threat to managing its relatively limited coronavirus outbreak that has been kept in check but is expected to spread, health officials say.
The government has halted flights for non-residents from epicentres of the virus, shut schools and warned against public gatherings as the total number of cases rose to 41 this week.
(Production: Alaa Kanaan, Ayat Basma) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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