BEIRUT, July 23 (Xinhua) -- Lebanon's Interior Ministry issued new measures for the fight against COVID-19 amid a remarkable increase in the number of infections over the past few days, LBCI local TV channel reported Thursday.
According to the new measures, people who do not abide by the rules or neglect precautionary measures against COVID-19 will face imprisonment of up to six months, while those who break the rules on purpose will face imprisonment from one to three years in addition to paying a fine.
The interior ministry also asks cafes, restaurants, pubs, hotels, beaches and all other public places not to offer Hookah smoking to its guests.
"Owners of public places that violate the rules will pay a fine and be forced to shut down," the ministry's statement said.
Health Minister Hamad Hassan declared a day earlier that the virus has spread in the country as 20 percent of the infections have an unknown source.
The minister also said people have to wear masks or they will pay a fine of about 33 U.S. dollars.
Lebanon's number of COVID-19 infections increased on Wednesday by 124 cases to 3,104 while the death toll went up by two to 43.
The health minister attributed the daily increase in infections to a lack of proper measures adopted by arrivals to Lebanon from foreign countries.
Hamad Hassan announced that Lebanon will quarantine people coming from foreign countries after doing PCR tests for these arrivals at their own expense.
Lebanon has been fighting against COVID-19 since Feb. 21.
The country has received several donations from different countries for the fight against COVID-19 including China which offered 17,500 masks, 1,500 protective gears, 1,320 goggles and 1,000 shoes covers to Lebanese public hospitals last month. Enditem
