Lebanon’s Higher Defense Council on Wednesday decided to extend the general mobilization until the end of the year amid an alarming surge in the coronavirus cases.

“We are going through a very delicate phase in fighting corona. The number of infections is increasing in a way that recommends that if the rise continues, we will lose control of the pandemic,” caretaker Prime Minister Hassan Diab said at the beginning of the Higher Defense Council meeting.

“The number of deaths is also increasing intensely, thus I find it necessary to extend the general mobilization period until the end of this year,” he added.