Lebanese COVID-19 Omicron wave turns into "tsunami": minister-Xinhua

Lebanese COVID-19 Omicron wave turns into "tsunami": minister

Source: Xinhua

Editor: huaxia

2022-01-09 01:29:31

People wait for the COVID-19 vaccination at a hospital in Tripoli, northern Lebanon, on Jan. 8, 2022. (Photo by Khaled Habshiti/Xinhua)

BEIRUT, Jan. 8 (Xinhua) -- With 7,547 new COVID-19 cases registered nationwide on Saturday, the COVID-19 Omicron wave that started three weeks ago in Lebanon has turned into a "tsunami," warned the country's Health Minister Firas Abiad.

The national tally now stood at 769,400, and 17 more people died from the disease, bringing the country's death toll to 9,267, the ministry reported.

Firas Abiad tweeted that "the situation in hospitals and ICUs remains stable, while capacity is being boosted."

He noted that 30,582 people flocked Saturday to get COVID-19 vaccination after the authorities called for a speedier rollout in the hope of curbing the surge.

A man receives the COVID-19 vaccine at a hospital in Tripoli, northern Lebanon, on Jan. 8, 2022. (Photo by Khaled Habshiti/Xinhua)

People wait for the COVID-19 vaccination at a hospital in Tripoli, northern Lebanon, on Jan. 8, 2022. (Photo by Khaled Habshiti/Xinhua)