Hundreds gather in Lebanon’s capital to protest COVID-19 measures

Hundreds gathered in Beirut, Lebanon, on Saturday to protest new COVID-19 vaccine measures implemented by the government. 

The government implemented new measures on Monday that require citizens to have a negative PCR test or be fully vaccinated to enter restaurants and other venues, The Associated Press reported.

Civil servants are also required to undergo regular PCR tests get vaccinated to work. 

PCR tests are difficult to obtain for Lebanese citizens due to their cost amid the country’s economic crisis. 

The measures caused around 300 people to demonstrate in Beirut, with one banner reading, “No to the dictatorship of vaccination,” according to the AP. 

The protest came a day after Lebanon recorded 7,974 new coronavirus cases in one day, breaking the country’s previous record. 

Throughout the pandemic, Lebanon has reported more than 760,000 cases and more than 9,000 deaths, the AP noted. 

The globe has seen a sharp spike in coronavirus cases due to the highly transmissible omicron variant first discovered in South Africa. 

Some cites in the United States have required proof of vaccination for some public spaces like restaurants and gyms. New York City in particular has continued to implement a vaccine requirement for these kinds of public spaces. 

In December, Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) announced that people over the age of 12 will need to show proof of vaccination for a number of indoor spaces including restaurants, night clubs, bars, theaters or gyms. The mandate will begin Jan. 15.