Health minister tells defense council: ‘We are still in the eye of the storm’ BEIRUT: Ships anchored in Lebanon’s ports sounded their sirens on Thursday in support of health workers as the government announced it will extend the country’s coronavirus shutdown by another two weeks to combat the spread of the disease. The decision to extend the lockdown until April 26 was made by the Supreme Council of Defense, chaired by President Michel Aoun. Since Lebanon declared a state of medical emergency last month, people have been allowed to leave their homes only to buy food or medicine, and most businesses have closed. The only airport is also shut, except for a few flights carrying expatriates returning from abroad. An overnight curfew largely bans people from going outside between 7 p.m. and 5 a.m., with security forces enforcing curbs. As of Thursday, the country had 582 cases of the illness, with 19 deaths, according to the government’s website on the virus. The outbreak comes at a time when Lebanon faces a deepening financial crisis. Health Minister Hamad Hassan told the Supreme Council of Defense that home quarantine should be continued “because Lebanon is still in the eye of the storm.” Fear is growing in the country’s northern Bsharri district — known as the birthplace of writer Gibran Khalil Gibran — after the number of confirmed cases increased to 45, according to the Health Ministry. Bsharri’s government hospital administration said that the virus might have been brought to the district by a returning expatriate, tourist or visitor. It called on residents to “refrain from indulging in personal analysis or circulating rumors to find the first case.” HIGHLIGHTS • Matn district still has the country’s highest number of coronavirus cases with 118, while the number in Beirut rose to 104. • Meanwhile, 33 cases have been recorded in the northern town of Zgharta, 53 in Baabda and 71 in Keserwan. Matn district still has the country’s highest number of coronavirus cases with 118, while the number in Beirut rose to 104. Meanwhile, 33 cases have been recorded in the northern town of Zgharta, 53 in Baabda and 71 in Keserwan. Flights back to Beirut on Middle East Airlines flights from Doha, Frankfurt, Accra and London resumed on Thursday as part of efforts by the Lebanese government to return expatriates from abroad. Health services have stepped up testing on people returning to the country after 12 cases were discovered on previous return flights from Europe. UN organizations have responded to Lebanese calls for support in tackling the pandemic. Claudio Cordone, acting UN resident and humanitarian coordinator for Lebanon, said: “The country is going through an unprecedented emergency, requiring all of us to ramp up our actions to stop the transmission of the virus.” “Coordinated and decisive action” is needed to minimize the effects of the crisis on the poorest and most vulnerable, he said. Cordone said that that Rafik Hariri University Hospital has been carrying out at least 200 tests every day, and the number will be increased to about 450 per day. Dr. Iman Shankiti, the World Health Organization (WHO) representative in Lebanon, said: “We are working on all fronts to ensure better preparedness and response.” UNICEF Representative in Lebanon Yukie Mokuo said: “Children’s lives have been turned upside down in just a few short weeks. The most vulnerable families are affected not only by coronavirus but also by the economic situation.” The UN said that based on available evidence, there are no confirmed coronavirus cases among refugees in Lebanon, except for one Palestine refugee living outside the camps. However, it is working with Lebanese authorities and humanitarian groups on isolation and containment plans if coronavirus cases are identified among refugees. More than 180,000 families are now officially listed to receive aid during the coronavirus crisis. The Lebanese army will begin providing 400,000 Lebanese liras ($266) to every family from next Tuesday after the government allocated 75 billion liras for support.