The Ministry of Public Health recorded 2,479 new cases, reaching a total number of 34,6063 confirmed cases and 60 deaths.

In this context, the Director General of “Rafic Hariri University Hospital”, Firas Abyad, indicated in a series of tweets that “the side effects of the vaccine have become well known.” Nevertheless, following-up with the vaccination process for Healthcare Staff revealed a side effect I had no idea about. It seems that the vaccine causes joy and hope. This is what we need the most, because there are still many challenges awaiting us.”

“The daily number of COVID-19 cases in Lebanon remains high, although they are significantly reducing. However, the number of patients in intensive care is slowly increasing, and death toll remains high, more than half the number are 75-year-old and older. This group needs to get vaccinated the sooner possible because vaccines save lives”, he added.

“Positive tests have not sufficiently decreased, and are still above the 15% rate. However, many are demanding to ease lockdown restrictions. When we enter the second stage, social mixing is likely to lead to an increase in corona cases, but hospitals are still overwhelmed”, he affirms.

“Opening schools will be a particular challenge. Previous reports of a low rate of transmission among adolescents were incorrect. Without severe measures, the schools’ opening is more likely to increase cases. Are schools and the Internet ready for that?’, asked Abyad.