Lebanon’s Cabinet will hold an “emergency” meeting on Sunday and the Higher Defense Council will convene afterwards to review the state’s ongoing response to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

The Health Ministry announced that the number of people infected with COVID-19 coronavirus rose to 93 on Saturday.

Health Minister Hamad Hassan on Saturday stressed the necessity for self-quarantine to reduce the risk of contracting coronavirus or spreading it to others.

Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah on Friday stressed that the Health Ministry has been transparent in reporting coronavirus cases, as he noted that it is up to the government to declare a state of emergency should the need arise.

“The Health Ministry has been transparent from the first day and all claims about a cover-up by the Health Ministry or Hizbullah are baseless and mere lies,” Nasrallah said in a televised address focused on the coronavirus crisis.

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea on Friday urged the government to lockdown the entire country as a precaution against the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus, warning that the LF may file lawsuits against Prime Minister Hassan Diab and Health Minister Hamad Hasan should the infections increase dramatically.

“If the government doesn’t take the necessary measures, and if we reach the state which we believe will be reached – a significant increase in the coronavirus infections in Lebanon in a manner that exceeds the capacity of hospitals and medical crews and infrastructure and people start dying on the streets, we will file lawsuits against PM Hassan Diab and Health Minister Hassan Diab, seeing as we represent broad popular segments,” Geagea said at a press conference.

Religious authorities moved to cancel or limit weekly prayer gatherings in Lebanon on Friday to help prevent the spread of the new coronavirus as they encouraged the faithful to pray for those afflicted by the global pandemic.

Friday prayers have been temporarily suspended in all Shiite mosques.

Central bank governor Riad Salameh instructed Lebanese banks on Friday to prioritize transfers for the purchase of medical supplies and equipment to combat coronavirus, the National News Agency reported on Friday.

Lebanon’s banks issued a statement suspending work on Saturday over coronavirus fears.

Lebanon bank employee union said in the statement that the “number of coronavirus cases is increasing despite the health ministry’s instructions.”

The newly-appointed US ambassador to Lebanon, Dorothy Shea, said from the Grand Serail on Friday that the United States continues to “support” Lebanon and the calls of Lebanese protesters demanding reforms and an end for corruption.

The two US-based firms to act as legal and financial advisers on Lebanon’s public debt restructuring began negotiating with major creditors abroad after the government decided to default on its $1.2 billion Eurobond debt, al-Joumhouria daily reported on Friday.