Coronavirus: Libya records 617 new virus infections

03 Septembre 2020

Tripoli, Libya, September 3 (Infosplusgabon) - A total of 617 new cases of coronavirus have been recorded in Libya in the last 24 hours out of 3,606 samples tested, a new record that confirms the upward curve of the pandemic in this North African country, which is in the grip of a double political and security crisis.

In a statement issued Thursday, the National Centre for Disease Control announced 110 recoveries and four deaths in the country.

Thus, the total number of confirmed Covid-19 infections in Libya has risen to 15,773 cases, including 13,663 carriers of the active virus, 1,856 recoveries and 254 deaths, since its outbreak in the county in  March.

Efforts made by Libyan authorities to contain the pandemic do not seem to succeed as the country is on the brink of being engulfed by a second wave of infections.

This follows cases recorded in the the last few days with 543 infections on Tuesday,  658 on Wednesday and 617 this Thursday -- a situation pointing to the weak application of preventive measures by citizens, despite the curfew, prohibition of gatherings and the reduction of working hours in public offices as well as the closure of shops and supermarkets.

Civil society activists and Libyan personalities have called for more support for Libya to cope with the rapid spread of the disease in the country, especially as the health system is severely deficient as indicated by the high number of deaths.

They called on the World Health Organization and the country's partners to take action to curb the disease in the country, which is facing insecurity due to the ongoing armed conflict.

It is noted that this outbreak of infections comes in the context of a political crisis against the backdrop of demonstrations by young Libyans, who denounce the corrupt ruling political class and state officials,  mismanagement, lack of access to basic services, electricity, water and health care  as well as housing and food.

FIN/ INFOSPLUSGABON/ASX/GABON2020

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