This archive report was first published on 6 August 2020.
On August 6, 2020, Lebanon reported its highest single-day COVID-19 infection tally of 255 cases, according to the state-run National News Agency.
The surge in cases came as the country struggled to cope with the aftermath of a massive explosion in Beirut, which killed over 130 people, wounded at least 5,000, and left an estimated 300,000 homeless.
The blast, which occurred on August 4, 2020, forced authorities to suspend a lockdown that was supposed to last until August 10, 2020, allowing thousands to stream into overflowing hospitals.
As a result, Lebanon's hospitals were overwhelmed with cases other than COVID-19, with some having to turn away the wounded because they were already full.
The pandemic has compounded the woes of a crisis-hit country, which has been reeling from the effects of the explosion and struggling to contain the spread of COVID-19.
