Location: Lebanon
Event: On March 11, 2020, the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health reported that there are 61 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Lebanon.
The government of Lebanon announced on March 11, 2020 the temporary suspension of flights departing to Italy, Iran, China and South Korea. Additionally, on March 12, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation requested airlines that serve Beirut to immediately stop all flights to and from those countries, and not to transport passengers from or transiting France, Egypt, Germany, Iraq, Syria, Spain, and the United Kingdom, with exemptions for Lebanese and foreign residents of Lebanon through March 16. Measures are being taken to restrict gatherings in places such as dining and entertainment venues, and that a limit be placed on the number of public sector employees reporting to their workplaces. For more information, visit the website of the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health.
The measures announced by the government are in addition to those described in our Health Alert of March 10, 2020.
On March 12, the Lebanese government made the decision to close indefinitely all land border crossings into Syria.
Actions to Take:
- Consult the CDC website for the most up-to-date information.
- For the most recent information on what you can do to reduce your risk of contracting COVID-19 please see the CDC’s latest recommendations.
- Visit the COVID-19 crisis page on travel.state.gov for information from the State Department.
- Check with your airlines or cruise lines regarding any updated information about your travel plans and/or restrictions, and see the Department of State’s guidance specifically for cruise ship passengers.
- Visit our Embassy webpage on COVID-19 for information on conditions in Lebanon.
- Visit the Department of Homeland Security’s website on the latest travel restrictions to the U.S., and see the DHS Acting Secretary’s statement of March 11,2020.
Assistance:
- U.S. Embassy Beirut, Lebanon
+961-4-542600 or +961-4-543600
BeirutACS@state.gov
https://lb.usembassy.gov/ - U.S. Department of State – Consular Affairs
+1-888-407-4747 or +1-202-501-4444
For further detailed information regarding travel and security in Lebanon:
- Visit the State Department’s travel website Travel.State.Gov to review the Lebanon Travel Advisory, Country-Specific Information for Lebanon, and the Worldwide Caution.
- Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP)to receive the latest security updates and make it easier for the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate to contact you in an emergency.
- Follow the U.S. Embassy in Beirut on Twitter and Facebook