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. 2021 Jun;46(3):487-493.
doi: 10.1007/s10900-020-00884-y.

COVID-19 Pandemic: An Insult Over Injury for Lebanon

Abdul Rahman Bizri  1   2   3 , Hussein H Khachfe  4   5 , Mohamad Y Fares  6   7   8 , Umayya Musharrafieh  1   9
Affiliations

COVID-19 Pandemic: An Insult Over Injury for Lebanon

Abdul Rahman Bizri et al. J Community Health. 2021 Jun.

Abstract

The outbreak of the novel coronavirus disease in 2019 (COVID-19) caused a plethora of challenges worldwide and tested healthcare systems across the six continents. Lebanon had recently faced harsh political and economic crises. We aim to describe the effect of COVID-19 on an already crisis-stricken country. A descriptive analysis of the burden of COVID-19 pandemic on Lebanon was performed. Relevant data on COVID-19 was retrieved from the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health from February 21 till June 13th, 2020. Results obtained were analyzed and a literature review was performed. 1422 confirmed COVID-19 cases were identified and reported in Lebanon by June 13th, 2020, comprising an incidence rate of 208/million persons. There has been a total of 31 deaths thus far, with a reported death rate of 5/million persons. The age group with the highest number of cases was 20-29 years. Beirut was the district with the highest number of cases (18%). The COVID-19 crisis has impacted the country on a multifactorial level. COVID-19 could not have come at a worse time for Lebanon. The country is on brink of bankruptcy, the healthcare system is struggling for survival and the government is striving to regain the trust of the population.

Keywords: COVID-19; Infectious Diseases; Lebanon; Novel coronavirus disease 2019.

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Conflict of interest statement

All authors certify that they have no affiliations with or involvement in any organization or entity with any financial interest or non-financial interest in the subject matter or materials discussed in this manuscript.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
The distribution of COVID-19 cases in Lebanon by age groups
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Number of new COVID-19 cases in Lebanon starting 21 February, and up till June 12th, 2020
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Timeline showing the major COVID-19 events taking place in Lebanon
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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