COVID-19 pandemic in Libya

Prior to the coronavirus pandemic, Libya's healthcare system was already on the verge of collapse, given the chaos that has prevailed in the country since 2011.[10] Warring factions in the Libyan Civil War disregarded repeated entreaties from the United Nations for a ceasefire during the pandemic.[3][11]

The internationally recognized Government of National Accord (GNA), based in Tripoli, and the rival government under Khalifa Haftar, based in eastern Libya, both took steps to control the spread of COVID-19, through the closure of schools, markets, and some businesses.[10] Haftar's forces have attempted to take Tripoli, the Libyan capital, in an offensive that began in April 2019.[10] Hundreds have been killed, and thousands have been displaced, in the fighting.[10]

On 24 March, Libya confirmed its first COVID-19 case,[2] a 73-year-old man who had returned to the country on 5 March from a trip to Saudi Arabia.[10]

On 30 March, the GNA announced the release of 466 detainees in Tripoli, as part of an effort to stop the spread of the virus in prisons.[10]

By the end of March ten persons had tested positive for COVID-19. One patient had recovered and nine remained active cases at the end of the month.[12]

On 5 April, Mahmoud Jibril, age 68, who headed the interim National Transitional Council in 2011, died from COVID-19 in Cairo, Egypt, after having been admitted to the hospital on March 21.[13]

On 6 April, forces under the command of Khalifa Haftar launched a Grad rocket attack[14] against Al Khadra General Hospital, one of Tripoli's largest hospitals, injured six health workers and substantially damaged the hospital,[3] where 300 patients, including two COVID-19 patients, were being treated.[14] This was the third time that Haftar's forces attacked medical facilities during their intensified siege of Tripoli.[14] The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs condemned the attack as an "appalling" and "clear violation of international humanitarian law ... It is unacceptable at a time when healthcare and health workers are vital in our fight against a global pandemic."[3] The office stated that "This senseless escalation must stop so that health authorities and aid agencies can respond to COVID-19 and continue reaching people in need of urgent humanitarian assistance."[11] Renewed rocket attacks against the hospital continued the following day.[14]

On 7 April, Eastern Libya confirmed its first case.[15] By 7 April, Libya had confirmed 20 cases of COVID-19, mostly in western Libya.[14]

On 15 April, the Government of National Accord imposed a 24-hour curfew for a period of 10 days beginning on 17 April.[16]

During April there were 51 new cases, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 61. The number of recovered patients increased to 18, while three patients died. There were 40 active cases at the end of the month.[17]

In May, there were 95 new cases, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 156. The death toll rose to 5. The number of recovered patients increased by 34 to 52, leaving 99 active cases at the end of the month.[18]

Cases doubled over a period of two weeks in June, while increased conflict, including targeting of health facilities, has left it difficult for medical teams to respond.[19]

On 26 June, the UN-backed government extended the 8pm to 6am curfew for two further weeks, as confirmed cases increased to 713.[20]

There were 668 new cases in June, raising the total number of confirmed cases to 824. The death toll rose by 19 to 24. The number of recovered patients grew by 157 to 209, leaving 591 active cases at the end of the month.[21] Model-based simulations indicate that the 95% confidence interval for the time-varying reproduction number R _t fluctuated around 1.2 in June and July.[22]

There were 2,797 new cases in July, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 3621. The death toll rose by 50 to 74. The number of recovered patients increased by 409 to 618, leaving 2929 active cases at the end of the month.[23]

There were 10,035 new cases in August, raising the total number of confirmed cases to 13,656. The death toll rose to 232. At the end of the month there were 12,270 active cases.[24]

There were 20,358 new cases in September, raising the total number of confirmed cases to 34,014. The death toll rose to 540.[25]

There were 27,081 new cases in October, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 61,095. The death toll rose to 857. There were 25,208 active cases at the end of the month.[26]

There were 21,714 new cases in November, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 82,809. The death toll rose to 1,183. There were 27,808 active cases at the end of the month.[27]

There were 17,468 new cases in December, taking the total number of confirmed cases to 100,277. The death toll rose to 1,478. There were 26,692 active cases at the end of the month.[28]

There were 19,125 new cases in January, taking the total number of confirmed cases to 119,402. The death toll rose to 1,883. There were 18,048 active cases at the end of the month.[29]