No members of the Malaysian Battalion 850-7 (MALBATT 850-7) serving in the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) peacekeeping mission have been infected with COVID-19, says Chief of Defence Force Gen Tan Sri Affendi Buang.

He said UNIFIL and MALBATT had issued guidelines and precautionary measures to prevent COVID-19 infections.

“MALBATT has also implemented standard operating procedures while performing duty besides promoting good hygiene practices.

"The MALBATT 850-7’s mission in the country (Lebanon) is still ongoing," he said when contacted by Bernama yesterday.

The battalion was deployed to serve for a year under the UNIFIL peacekeeping mission since October last year.

According to news reports citing the Lebanese Ministry of Health, 737 cases of COVID-19 with 25 deaths have been reported in the country as of Sunday (May 3).

-- BERNAMA