Libyan Health Minister Saad Agoub instructed all health sectors across Libya to raise the state of preparation for public hospitals, ambulances and all devices belonging to the medical sector in anticipation of a public health emergency.
The Minister directed that medical isolation units were provided with ventilators and other emergency systems.
Agoub called for a commitment to implement the instructions issued by the Ministry and respond to the emergency plan, raising the medical readiness in line with the expanded Ministry of Health program for 2020.
The Minister of Health called on public and private bodies to suspend all forms of gatherings with more than 50 people in order to avoid the spread of coronavirus infection among people.
The Minister’s measures apply to stadiums and sports cafes across the country. He also asked that people avoid handshakes because it is one of the most common causes of infection.
According to the Minister, Libya is completely free of the COVID-19 virus (commonly known as “Coronavirus”) but this does not mean that it is not at risk of being infected. At present the virus has spread to more than 90 countries, including Libya’s neighboring countries and the eastern Mediterranean.
The Minister of Health also warned the Libyan community to avoid close contact with the elderly and those suffering from respiratory diseases.
The Minister stressed the need to deploy monitoring mechanisms in all land, sea and air ports in Libya to check for symptoms amongst individuals who have been abroad.
During the Ministry’s statement, the Health Minister Agoub recommended that all Libyan citizens refrain from travelling to countries where the disease has spread except for urgent matters.