The Lebanese Army dispersed a group of protesters -defying the government’s lockdown over coronavirus- in the northern city of Tripoli who had taken to the streets late on Thursday in protest at the deteriorating living conditions in the country.

Interior Minister Mohammed Fahmi said the precautions taken to counter the spread of the novel coronavirus outbreak must not be alleviated until the virus is totally controlled, al-Joumhouria daily reported on Friday.

Prime Minister Hassan Diab announced Thursday that “at least 98 percent” of bank deposits will not be affected by any financial measures that might be taken in the near future, as he launched a “stimulus and social safety” plan to address the repercussions of the coronavirus crisis.

President Michel Aoun on Thursday lashed out at what he called "arbitrary criticism" and "insults."

Prime Minister Hassan Diab announced Thursday that the coronavirus lockdown and the so-called state of general mobilization could be extended beyond April 26.

Lebanon registered five new cases of the novel coronavirus COVID-19 on Thursday raising the tally to 663.

The Health Ministry said in its daily report that Thursday’s cases were all recorded among Lebanese residents, noting that no infections were registered among Lebanese expats repatriated recently from abroad.

Speaker Nabih Berri called lawmakers for three consecutive Parliament meetings next week at the UNESCO Palace in Beirut instead of the Parliament building in Beirut’s Nejmeh Square.

The government convened in a regular meeting at Baabda Presidential Palace to discuss nine items on its agenda, mainly a draft economic reform plan to rescue Lebanon’s collapsing economy and reform its banking sector.

Lebanon denounced on Thursday the Israeli aggression a day earlier against a “Lebanese civilian vehicle” near the Jdaidit Yabous crossing and called for filing a complaint with the Security Council.

Lebanon received PCR kits and thermometers as a gift from the Chinese government on Thursday to help it confront the outbreak of coronavirus.