Libya’s United Nations-backed Government of National Accord (GNA) on Wednesday announced imposing a four-day total lockdown in the capital Tripoli in an attempt to contain the spread of the coronavirus reported The Libya Observer.
According to a statement released by the GNA, a curfew, from 9 pm-6 am, will take effect for 10 days after the lockdown ends. However, a full curfew will be enforced on Fridays and Saturdays.
Mass gatherings and all religious and national festivals will also remain suspended during the four-day lockdown period. All markets will be shut during that period while observance of social distancing will be mandatory together with adherence to other COVID-19 health regulations. The decision extended banning social events, and public transportation as part of austere measures to limit the spread of COVID-19.
The lockdown has been announced as Libya reported the highest single daily increase on Wednesday.
Libya’s National Center for Disease Control announced the country recorded 553 positive cases on Wednesday. The new cases bring the country’s total cases to 11,834, with 10,472 active cases. The center revealed that 16 more patients have been cured of the infectious virus, taking the total recoveries to 1,112, while the fatalities increased to 203 with the addition of four more death cases.
The World Health Organization (WHO) also issued an alarm over rapidly escalating rates of coronavirus cases in Libya. It said that over the past 2 weeks, the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Libya has more than doubled. The international health body added that given the acute shortages of tests and laboratory capacity, the real number of cases is likely to be much higher.
WHO said it has requested US$ 22.3 million to respond to COVID-19 in Libya. It said it has received just over US$ 2.3 million in signed contributions so far.
