Since February 21 to March 22, 2020, the total number of positive COVID-19 cases at Rafik Hariri University Hospital and the laboratories of the university hospitals accredited by the Ministry increased to 248; (An additional 18 cases were confirmed since yesterday).

Five cases need to be confirmed at Rafik Hariri Hospital after undergoing tests at laboratories not accredited by the Ministry.

The Ministry of Public Health is following up on all the cases that were diagnosed at laboratories that are not accredited, in order to confirm the same. Some of these cases were retested in private laboratories and returned negative.

The Ministry is taking the fullest measure of vigilance in dealing with this disease, while urging all the patients tested positive in the private laboratories not accredited by the ministry and who are not showing any symptoms, to strictly remain under home quarantine, pending confirmation of their tests.

The Ministry of Public Health urges all the citizens to comply with the preventive measures, in particular home-quarantine that has become an individual and social responsibility that every citizen should assume. Any person failing to fully comply with these measures will be exposed to legal prosecution.