Lebanon: 220% increase in coronavirus cases in one month

Lebanon has witnessed a 220 per cent increase in Covid-19 cases in one month since the deadly explosion which rocked the capital city of Beirut on 4 August, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) has said.

“Since the day of the explosion one month ago we’ve seen over a 220 per cent increase in the number of Covid cases in Lebanon, and it’s showing no signs of slowing down,” Country Director for the International Rescue Committee in Lebanon Matias Meier said in a statement, adding that some 500-600 cases were being confirmed every day.

“There are multiple clusters which is making it even harder to slow the spread. This is on top of everything else that people have to contend with,” Meier continued.

The blast which killed at least 200 people and injured thousands more left some 300,000 people homeless and 40,000 buildings damaged.

Lebanon: Half of Beirut children showing signs of trauma after explosion