Health Minister Firass Abiad announced Tuesday that “the situation is still under control until the moment” as to hospitals’ capacity to deal with the current wave of Covid-19 cases.

“The numbers of patients in hospitals and in their ICU units have not increased in a significant manner, but we are required to be prepared and ready should these numbers surge,” Abiad said after talks with Prime Minister Najib Miqati at the Grand Serail.

The United States reported more than one million new Covid-19 cases Monday after the long New Year's weekend, according to data from Johns Hopkins University, as the Omicron variant spread at a blistering pace.

More than 2,000 people travelling on a cruise ship in Indian waters have been prevented from disembarking after a Covid outbreak on board, authorities said Monday.

Israel will from Sunday allow entry to vaccinated visitors from low-risk countries, the health ministry said, five weeks after it shut its borders to slow the spread of the Omicron variant.

French MPs on Monday began debating draft legislation that would require most people to be vaccinated against Covid-19 to enter public spaces such as bars, restaurants and long-distance public transport.

Kuwait has urged its citizens to leave several European countries including Britain, France and Germany because of a surge in cases of the Omicron coronavirus variant.

A preliminary South African government study published has shown a booster of the Johnson & Johnson Covid vaccine was 85 percent effective in preventing hospitalization from the Omicron variant, a finding that helps revive the shot's reputation.

Israel began Monday administering fourth Covid vaccine shots to people over 60 and health workers amid a surge driven by the Omicron variant.

President Michel Aoun on Monday received a series of reports about the development of the coronavirus situation in the country amid the significant surge in cases, especially among those who are yet to be vaccinated.

In this regard, Aoun urged all citizens and residents who have not been inoculated to head to hospitals and health centers to take the jab and to cooperate with the campaigns that the Health Ministry is organizing in the various regions to this end.

Health Minister Firass Abiad announced Sunday that the decision to lock down the country to rein in the major surge in Covid infections is being “carefully studied.”