Two guards of the house of Kataeb Party chief MP Sami Gemayel have been infected with the COVID-19 coronavirus, the party said on Wednesday.

Noting that the two guards belong to the Internal Security Forces, Kataeb said one of them contracted the virus from his sister, who is a nurse at the Notre Dame des Secours hospital in Jbeil, before infecting his colleague.

A Lebanese coronavirus patient died on Wednesday as four others recovered, the state-run Rafik Hariri University Hospital announced.

The fatality raises the country’s death toll from the pandemic to six.

Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri and Prime Minister Hassan Diab held talks Wednesday in Ain el-Tineh that focused on the issue of repatriating some Lebanese citizens from Europe and Africa over the coronavirus crisis.

In this regard, Berri stressed that “the government must ensure all the requirements of care and protection for Lebanese expats as well as residents in terms of everything related to their health, social and financial security, wherever they may be.”

The Higher Defense Council will convene Thursday at 10:00 am at the Baabda Palace, the National News Agency said.

The meeting will be presided by President Michel Aoun, at his invitation, and attended by Prime Minister Hassan Diab, the permanent members and other officials.

Prime Minister Hassan Diab marked Annunciation Day on Wednesday praying that Lebanon overcomes its crises as the country confronts the coronavirus pandemic.

President Michel Aoun marked Annunciation Day on Wednesday calling on the Lebanese people to stay safe at home and raise prayers so that Lebanon is able to overcome the spread of the novel coronavirus.

“Make the Annunciation Day an occasion for prayer with the aim of consolidating our national unity after it was proven to all that our national unity is our shield in distress and hardship,” said Aoun.

Health Minister Hamad Hasan noted on Wednesday that home quarantine is inevitable in order to stop the spread of coronavirus, adding that the government could consider a lockdown extension.

As Western countries reeling from the coronavirus pandemic awaken to a new reality of economic collapse, overwhelmed hospitals, grounded flights and home confinement, it's tempting to think the end of days is at hand.

But for millions across the Middle East and in conflict zones farther afield, much of this is grimly familiar. The survivors of recent wars, too often dismissed as the pitiable victims of failed states, can offer hard-earned wisdom in times like these.

Speaker Nabih Berri has said that the Parliament will be holding online legislative and supervisory meetings as the nation witnesses a two week lockdown over coronavirus fears, al-Joumhouria daily reported on Wednesday.

The daily quoted the Speaker as saying that “the meetings will be held through video conferencing technology and through specialized institutions, which saves time and cost.”

Former Prime Minister Saad Hariri has sent a reply letter to the head of the International Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, Song Tao, in which he expressed his great appreciation for the coordinated efforts of the Chinese officials to confront the coronavirus pandemic, lauding China's contribution in helping Lebanon combat this virus, his office said.

“I express to you, on my behalf, and in the name of the Future (al-Mustaqbal) movement, and through you to the Communist Party of China led by its Secretary General, Chinese President Xi Jinping, the great appreciation for the coordinated efforts of the party, the government and the people, and for the transparent humanitarian responsibilities to face the coronavirus, on the human, health, economic and social levels,” Hariri said in an English-language statement distributed by his office.