On Wednesday, the Council of Ministers of the eastern-based Interim Government, headed by Abdullah Al-Thinni, held its third regular meeting for the current year in the city of Benghazi.
During the meeting, the Council urged the Ministry of Social Affairs to prepare for the coming winter season, in terms of providing strategic stocks for the displaced to face natural disasters. Municipal councils were also requested to start preparing sanitation work and the rehabilitation of municipal infrastructure. This is all in anticipation of floods that may occur as a result of rain and other natural disasters.
The Council also decided to issue a binding decision to enforce the wearing of masks, social distancing, and adherence to preventive and precautionary measures to confront the COVID-19 pandemic. Concerning the deterioration of the education sector, the Cabinet emphasized the need to reconsider academic curricula and private education institutions. It also stressed the need to restructure the health sector, from hospitals to medical centres.
The Cabinet also highlighted the importance of the police, in preventing the spread of the pandemic, praising the efforts made by the Ministry of Interior.
The National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) of Libya, reported 658 new COVID-19 cases, the highest daily infections in the country so far. The Centre said in a statement that the total number of cases in Libya rose to 14,624, including 1,676 recoveries, and 242 deaths. This includes 217 new recoveries, and five more deaths.
A series of precautionary measures against COVID-19 have been taken by Libyan authorities since March. These measures includes closing the country’s borders, shutting down schools and mosques, banning public gatherings, and imposing a curfew.