Customers will be banned from Lebanon’s restaurants, beaches and hotels from next week unless they prove they are either immunised or free of the coronavirus, the Tourism Ministry said.
People over 16 years of age must present proof of vaccination, evidence of a recent coronavirus infection or a negative Covid-19 test to be allowed into tourist spots.
“Tourist establishments, hotels, restaurants, cafes, amusement parks, sea resorts and all institutions under the authority of the ministry must work within a safe, coronavirus-free environment,” the statement said.
The circular, issued on Friday, follows a rise in Covid-19 cases at the height of the tourist season, when Lebanese citizens living abroad return home.
Doctors say the rise in cases could signal a new wave of infections, which cash-strapped authorities are ill-equipped to contain.
Dr Firass Abiad, who runs Lebanon’s largest public hospital, said last week on Twitter that “summer vacation in Lebanon is over. Covid is increasing at an exponential rate.”
Lebanon recorded 1,502 new coronavirus cases on Tuesday, the highest number of daily infections since April. One new Covid-19 death was announced.
Head of Lebanon’s Covid-19 vaccination committee, Doctor Abdulrahman Bizri, said that while the new decision was theoretically sound, it may be difficult to implement, as well as discriminatory.
“We cannot demand that everyone show proof of vaccination if there are not enough vaccines,” he said, pointing to the country’s slow inoculation campaign.
The government is using the measures as an alternative to lockdowns as cases rise, he said, but the new rules “do not take into consideration Lebanon’s difficult reality.”
Lebanon has been in economic freefall since late 2019 due to decades of corruption and a lack of foreign currency reserves. More than half of the population has become poor according to UN data as inflation slashes purchasing power.
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Public health officials attribute the sharp rise in coronavirus cases to the spread of the highly infectious Delta variant. They say it is responsible for up to 80 per cent of new cases.
Lebanon’s relatively low vaccination rate and the lack of border restrictions have fuelled rising infections.
The tourism ministry’s circular covers employees of the tourism sector, who “must receive the vaccine or present a negative PCR test every 72 hours” within two weeks, the circular said.
From Monday, the authorities will crack down on those who fail to abide by the rules.
A spokeswoman for the trade union representing restaurant, cafe and nightclub owners said its members were prepared to enforce the ministry’s decision but had received no specific instructions on how to do so.
“The circular was issued right before the weekend so we didn’t get any additional information. We are waiting to know more on Monday,” she said.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
The five pillars of Islam
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Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
What are the influencer academy modules?
- Mastery of audio-visual content creation.
- Cinematography, shots and movement.
- All aspects of post-production.
- Emerging technologies and VFX with AI and CGI.
- Understanding of marketing objectives and audience engagement.
- Tourism industry knowledge.
- Professional ethics.
The years Ramadan fell in May
The years Ramadan fell in May
Directed by Sam Mendes
Starring Dean-Charles Chapman, George MacKay, Daniel Mays
4.5/5
FORSPOKEN
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Kanguva
Director: Siva
Stars: Suriya, Bobby Deol, Disha Patani, Yogi Babu, Redin Kingsley
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Moon Music
Artist: Coldplay
Label: Parlophone/Atlantic
Number of tracks: 10
Rating: 3/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
RACECARD
6pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round-1 – Group 1 (PA) $50,000 (Dirt) 1,600m
6.35pm: Festival City Stakes – Conditions (TB) $60,000 (D) 1,200m
7.10pm: Dubai Racing Club Classic – Listed (TB) $100,000 (Turf) 2,410m
7.45pm: Jumeirah Classic Trial – Conditions (TB) $150,000 (T) 1,400m
8.20pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round-1 – Group 2 (TB) $250,000 (D) 1,600m
8.55pm: Cape Verdi – Group 2 (TB) $180,000 (T) 1,600m
9.30pm: Dubai Dash – Listed (TB) $100,000 (T) 1,000m
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The five pillars of Islam
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Company profile
Date started: January, 2014
Founders: Mike Dawson, Varuna Singh, and Benita Rowe
Based: Dubai
Sector: Education technology
Size: Five employees
Investment: $100,000 from the ExpoLive Innovation Grant programme in 2018 and an initial $30,000 pre-seed investment from the Turn8 Accelerator in 2014. Most of the projects are government funded.
Partners/incubators: Turn8 Accelerator; In5 Innovation Centre; Expo Live Innovation Impact Grant Programme; Dubai Future Accelerators; FHI 360; VSO and Consult and Coach for a Cause (C3)
The five pillars of Islam
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The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
Electoral College Victory
Trump has so far secured 295 Electoral College votes, according to the Associated Press, exceeding the 270 needed to win. Only Nevada and Arizona remain to be called, and both swing states are leaning Republican. Trump swept all five remaining swing states, North Carolina, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, sealing his path to victory and giving him a strong mandate.
Popular Vote Tally
The count is ongoing, but Trump currently leads with nearly 51 per cent of the popular vote to Harris’s 47.6 per cent. Trump has over 72.2 million votes, while Harris trails with approximately 67.4 million.
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Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Zayed Sustainability Prize
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
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Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Ain Issa camp:
- Established in 2016
- Houses 13,309 people, 2,092 families, 62 per cent children
- Of the adult population, 49 per cent men, 51 per cent women (not including foreigners annexe)
- Most from Deir Ezzor and Raqqa
- 950 foreigners linked to ISIS and their families
- NGO Blumont runs camp management for the UN
- One of the nine official (UN recognised) camps in the region
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