Lebanon's coronavirus cases rose to 16 on Thursday after a Lebanese woman coming from Britain tested positive for the virus, the Health Ministry said.

The woman had been admitted into the American University of Beirut Medical Center on Wednesday.

Financial Prosecutor Ali Ibrahim put a “prevention of disposal” signal on the assets of twenty Lebanese banks, the National News Agency reported on Thursday.

He also imposed a freeze on the assets of the heads and members of boards of directors of these banks, said NNA.

The price of U.S. dollar to the Lebanese pound recorded a new increase on Thursday at the parallel market reaching LBP 2,680 for buying and LBP 2,600 for selling.

The Cabinet convened at Baabda Presidential Palace to discuss nine items on its agenda, in addition to several “pressing” issues, the National News Agency reported on Thursday.

President Michel Aoun chaired the meeting held in the presence of PM Hassan Diab and the ministers, said NNA.

Ministers of Economy and Justice held a joint press conference on Thursday assuring that measures were underway to control the prices of goods and services and vowing “empirical” steps and "heavy" fines on violators.

Prime Minister Hassan Diab is expected to announce Lebanon’s decision whether to pay or default on a $1.2 billion Eurobond maturity on March 9, along with a “rescue” plan that the government shall adopt in that regard, al-Joumhouria daily reported on Thursday.

Anti-government protesters blocked roads across Lebanon on Wednesday to denounce the financial and economic deterioration.

The demonstrators blocked the Saifi and Sport City roads in Beirut, the Taalabaya and Jdita roads in the Bekaa and the el-Mina, Minieh, al-Mhammara and al-Beddawi roads in the North.

Lebanon on Wednesday confirmed two new coronavirus cases, taking the overall tally to 15.

One of the two infected individuals, a 14-year-old girl, is being quarantined at the Rafik Hariri University Hospital, while the other, a Lebanese man who had visited Egypt recently, has been isolated at the Notre Dame des Secours hospital in Jbeil where he had been initially admitted, the two hospitals said.

Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri on Wednesday announced that “the majority of the Lebanese people and parliament are totally against paying” a $1.2 billion Eurobond debt on March 9.

“The banks, which have led us into a loss amounting to 75% of the debt, must bear the responsibility along with the foreign buyers,” Berri told lawmakers during the weekly Ain el-Tineh meeting.

Prime Minister Hassan Diab met with a UN delegation where talks touched on UNIFIL’s role and mission in South Lebanon and necessary means to maintain stability along the Blue Line, the National News Agency said on Wednesday.