BEIRUT, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- Lebanon on Tuesday registered 7,592 new COVID-19 infections, raising the total number of cases in the country to 833,871.

Meanwhile, the death toll from the virus went up by 15 to 9,412, the Lebanese Health Ministry said.

Lebanese Health Minister Firas Abiad on Tuesday called for opening new COVID-19 departments in private hospitals where the patients will be received at all times amid the current surge in cases, according to Elnashra news website.

The unvaccinated people constitute the majority of those getting admitted to hospitals and intensive care units, the minister added.

Only 47 percent of the Lebanese population has so far taken the first dose of vaccine, prompting the health ministry to accelerate the process.

Lebanon has been fighting against the pandemic since Feb. 21, 2020.