BEIRUT: Health Minister Hamad Hasan said Monday that after July 31 travelers will not be permitted to enter Lebanon without PCR tests, as coronavirus numbers in the country continue to increase.

We are unfortunately facing a dangerous and risky turn regarding the coronavirus, Hasan said.

The minister added that travelers coming from countries with high infection rates would have to undergo mandatory quarantine in designated hotels between 24 hours to 48 hours until the PCR test results are issued.

Hasan said that asymptomatic individuals must quarantine and he urged municipalities to enforce precautionary measures and ensure that people abide by restrictions.

He said in a televised news conference that 222 health care workers have been infected, including doctors and nurses, and it is preferable for any individual dealing with mild health issues to postpone visiting hospitals."

Lebanon recorded 168 new COVID-19 cases and four new deaths Sunday. The number of hospitalizations for coronavirus rose by a shocking 60 percent between July 12-26, while the number of people in intensive care also increased by 65 percent during the same period.

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