A man walks at the seafront of Beirut during a total lockdown in Lebanon on Jan. 23, 2021. The Lebanese Health Ministry registered on Saturday 4,176 new COVID-19 cases, raising the total number in the country to 276,587. (Xinhua/Liu Zongya)

 The Lebanese Health Ministry registered on Saturday 4,176 new COVID-19 cases, raising the total number in the country to 276,587.

Meanwhile, the death toll from the virus increased by 52 to 2,270.

Firas Abiad, director general of Rafic Hariri University Hospital, said the spread of the COVID-19 variants in Lebanon was expected and may have contributed to the recent sharp rise in the number of cases.

A man riding a motorbike passes by American University of Beirut during a total lockdown in Lebanon on Jan. 23, 2021 . The Lebanese Health Ministry registered on Saturday 4,176 new COVID-19 cases, raising the total number in the country to 276,587. (Xinhua/Liu Zongya)

 
Abiad expressed his concerns about studies suggesting that certain coronavirus mutations may be associated with increased mortality.

He noted that Lebanon's immediate goal should be to regain some level of control over the virus.

Lebanon has been fighting against COVID-19 since Feb. 21, 2020.

A flower boy tries to sell a rose to a man at the seafront of Beirut during a total lockdown in Lebanon on Jan. 23, 2021. The Lebanese Health Ministry registered on Saturday 4,176 new COVID-19 cases, raising the total number in the country to 276,587. (Xinhua/Liu Zongya)

 
China has offered help to Lebanon's anti-coronavirus fight, including the donation of medical equipment to Beirut's airport, and Lebanon's Health Ministry.

On April 16, 2020, China donated 3,000 testing kits and 200 manual thermometers to Lebanon.