Lebanese banks Tuesday agreed to lift certain restrictions imposed last year to stem a crippling liquidity crisis, the National News Agency said.

Lebanon is grappling with its worst economic crisis in decades, as well as widespread public discontent with the political class since October.

Lebanon on Tuesday confirmed eleven new coronavirus cases, raising the country’s overall tally to 52.

The director of the state-run Rafik Hariri University Hospital said the 11 cases were confirmed after lab tests for 202 suspected cases over the past 24 hours.

A man who opened fire at dawn Sunday at the headquarters of the Kataeb Party in Beirut’s Saifi area was arrested on Tuesday, TV networks said.

MTV said the man, Yahia Dimashq, was arrested by the Intelligence Branch of the Internal Security Forces after it turned out that the car from which the shots were fired belongs to him.

State Prosecutor Ghassan Oueidat on Tuesday started hearing the testimonies of the legal counsels, owners and chairmen of Lebanon’s banks over the controversial capital flight that coincided with the intensification of Lebanon's financial and monetary crisis.

The National News Agency said a statement will be issued at the end of the hearing sessions.

President Michel Aoun on Tuesday said the government must devise a plan to restructure debt, plans to restructure banks and the central bank and others for financial and administrative reform as well as economic and social affairs.

He said the plans must be laid out “in parallel with the negotiations with the Eurobond holders.”

Lebanon on Tuesday has recorded its first death from the new coronavirus, a health ministry source said.

The 56-year-old was receiving treatment in a state-run Beirut hospital, the ministry source told AFP, adding that he had recently returned from Egypt, where the virus has also spread.

The government is expected to meet on Tuesday in a session dedicated to discuss the financial and monetary situation and an economic plan to salvage crisis-hit Lebanon from an unprecedented economic and liquidity crisis.

Cash-strapped Lebanon’s foreign reserves stand at more than $20 billion, finance minister Ghazi Wazni said Monday, amid concerns over the country's liquidity as it stumbles towards default. 

Progressive Socialist Party leader ex-MP Walid Jumblat on Monday criticized the government and its premier Hassan Diab in connection with the latter’s latest speech.

“What does this government have in store? Its premier did not mention a word about reform, the electricity sector, the protection of industry and the control of legal and illegal border crossings,” Jumblat tweeted.

Lebanon’s national carrier MEA on Monday announced the temporary suspension of its flights from and to Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Qatar until further announcement.

MEA said it took its decision “in light of the resolutions taken by a number of countries on halting travel with the aim of countering the spread of the novel coronavirus COVID-19.”