On Thursday, the Minister of Health of the Government of National Unity (GNU), Ali Al-Zanati ordered the formation of a new ‘Scientific Advisory Committee to Combat Coronavirus’. The committee will be chaired by Khalifa Al-Bakoush, and includes 27 other members.
According to the Health Ministry’s decision No. 4 of 2021, the committee will be tasked with setting a guideline of scientific rules for receiving and dealing with suspected cases, in coordination with various experts and specialized committees. This is to develop a unified protocol in hospitals and healthcare centers nationwide.
The committee will also be responsible for undertaking a permanent follow-up with the Ministry of Local Government and various municipalities, to curb the spread of the pandemic. As well as to develop a complete vision to overcome the lack of medical resources, and facilitate the importing of medical supplies and equipment.
Several Libyan cities have seen a surge in cases last week, including southern Tripoli, Qasr bin Ghashir, Suq Al-Khamis, and Al-Aziziyah. There have been warnings that the situation could worsen if stricter measures are not taken.
Meanwhile, security authorities in the east have started imposing fines on violators of these measures, in an attempt to limit the outbreak.
The Libyan National Army’s (LNA) Chief of the General Staff and Head of the ‘Supreme Committee to Combat Coronavirus’, Abdel-Razak Al-Nadouri has ordered fines of up to 50 dinars against people who do not wear face masks in public, and 10,000 dinars for owners of businesses who allow people to enter without wearing a mask.