Prime Minister Hassan Diab on Tuesday said those calling for the declaration of a state of emergency over coronavirus must first “read the law and its stipulations,” noting that officials have a duty to seek ways to assist citizens whose jobs have been affected by the lockdown.

“The state must help the people, but the presence of social solidarity is necessary,” Diab added, during a cabinet session at the Grand Serail.

President Michel Aoun on Tuesday followed up on the work of the crews of the state-run Rafik Hariri University Hospital and the Lebanese Red Cross in the face of the coronavirus crisis and heard their concerns and demands, the National News Agency said.

The talks between Aoun and the two sides occurred through separate video calls via the Skype application, NNA said.

The Presidency on Tuesday issued a statement in which it denied claims that President Michel Aoun is opposed to declaring a state of emergency over coronavirus for political considerations.

“All information and stances attributed to the president are totally baseless and aimed at harming the unity of constitutional, executive and military institutions, especially the army,” the Presidency said.

Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat on Tuesday wondered whether the government has an economic plan in parallel with the emergency measures it has declared to fight the coronavirus pandemic.

“The most important question, along with the coronavirus crisis, is that where is the government’s reformist economic plan?” Jumblat tweeted.

The Health Ministry said in its daily report on the number of people infected with the new coronavirus epidemic that the new tally registered a total of 304 cases.

The Association of Banks in Lebanon announced on Tuesday a $6 million grant to fight coronavirus.

An ABL delegation led by its chairman Salim Sfeir met with Prime Minister Hassan Diab and handed him the cheques of the amount.

Speaker Nabih Berri said he deliberated with Prime Minister Hassan Diab the need to declare a state of emergency over coronavirus fears which has become a necessity in light of an increase in the number of people infected with the virus, al-Joumhouria daily reported on Tuesday.

France has reportedly “gifted” the Lebanese Armed Forces with four “sophisticated” warships that will join the fleet of the Lebanese Navy, al-Joumhouria daily reported on Tuesday.

Former minister and prominent journalist May Chidiac announced Monday that she has tested positive for the novel coronavirus.

“After my return from the French capital Paris last week, I developed some symptoms similar to those of coronavirus, which required immediate home isolation,” she said in a statement.

Five more coronavirus patients have recovered after being treated at the state-run Rafik Hariri University Hospital in Beirut, the hospital said on Monday.

In a statement, RHUH said the five patients have tested negative twice and got rid of all of the disease symptoms.