Coronavirus: Lebanon, 90 Unifil blue helmets positive

(ANSA) - BEIRUT, SEPTEMBER 13 - Ninety UN peacekeepers tested positive for coronavirus in southern Lebanon.

This was announced by Unifil spokesman Andrea Tenenti in a statement in which the nationality of the blue helmets is not specified but it is emphasized that 88 are of the same contingent.

    These are the first cases of Covid-19 among the UN forces in Lebanon.

The infected were transferred to a Unifil facility used for the treatment of the coronavirus.

"We have implemented stringent contact tracing and applied the testing and isolation rule" to prevent a wider outbreak, the spokesperson said.

    About 45 countries contribute to the Unifil peacekeeping force, set up in 1978 to patrol the border between Lebanon and Israel. In August, the United Nations extended the mandate of the peace mission by one year, but reduced the militarist number from 15,000 to 13,000.

    Since the terrible explosion on August 4, Lebanon has seen an increase in the number of coronavirus cases to a total of 23,669 and 239 victims. Yesterday, health authorities announced 22 new infections in Roumieh prison, the largest detention center in the country. (HANDLE).