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The Covid-19 ward at Lebanon’s largest public hospital has reopened amid a marked rise in instances, the top of Rafic Hariri College Hospital mentioned on Tuesday.
The reopening of the ward, nevertheless, is only a “preparatory” transfer, mentioned Dr Jihad Saadeh.
The ward was by no means fully closed however was scaled down when Covid instances declined final 12 months.
However now, instances brought on by the most recent Covid variant are on the rise, and the ward has been re-expanded and positioned beneath whole isolation because it takes in sufferers from throughout the nation, Dr Saadeh instructed The Nationwide.
The rise in Covid instances has renewed fears of a return to 2020, when instances have been at their peak and the nation was positioned beneath lockdown.
On the time, specialists apprehensive Lebanon’s struggling well being sector can be unable to deal with an inflow of instances amid a steep financial disaster. Wards typically overflowed with sufferers as hospitals struggled with an absence of oxygen, electrical energy and drugs.
The rise in instances is attributed to a extremely contagious Omicron sub-variant, which is much less harmful however extremely infectious, Dr Saadeh mentioned.
“This can be a new variant — very new. Even individuals who have taken three vaccines don’t have immunity to those variants.”
The variant doesn’t look like extra harmful than different strains, he added, however “it’s unpredictable and we do not know what this variant will do”.
“Perhaps there will probably be hazard to those that have been contaminated a month later — we don’t know. It’s nonetheless new.”
In response to Dr Saadeh, folks ought to take precautions by carrying masks and avoiding giant gatherings.
Though the variant has not proved deadly to anybody in Lebanon to date, “those that are immunocompromised must be further cautious”.
Lebanon’s financial disaster is constant into its fourth 12 months and shortages within the well being sector proceed to have an effect on every day life, however the much less harmful mutations of Covid have given some respite to the well being sector.
“With sufficient preparation, all the things will probably be tremendous,” Dr Saadeh added.
Up to date: January 10, 2023, 6:00 PM
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