Foreign Minister Nasif emphasized that talks have been launched with European countries to open their airports to flights coming from Lebanon, al-Joumhouria daily reported on Friday.

Negotiations between Lebanon and the International Monetary Fund for a bailout plan are set to resume on Friday after a reported “hiatus” over the government's failure to enforce reforms, a condition to provide economic assistance, media reports said on Friday.

Energy Minister Raymond Ghajar announced Thursday that power supply will improve within 48 hours.

Separately, Ghajar said there are no plans to “negotiate with Iran over the import of fuel,” while noting that there are talks with Iraq.

Lebanon on Thursday witnessed a major one-day surge in the number of confirmed coronavirus cases.

In its daily statement, the Health Ministry said 44 of the cases were recorded among residents and 22 among expats who arrived in Lebanon in recent days.

The government has “honored its Policy Statement” and it does not intend to “change the free economic system,” Prime Minister Hassan Diab said on Thursday.

“We will carry on with our work and we have the courage to say everything we think of, without any political or private motive or interest,” Diab said at the beginning of a Cabinet session.

Health Minister Hamad Hassan on Thursday said he expects a “shocking” rise in COVID-19 coronavirus cases due to the repatriation of thousands of Lebanese expats.

Former Prime Minister Saad Hariri said Thursday that Lebanon is going through its worst economic crisis in history and that the ruling authority seeks to change Lebanon's competitive and free market regime.

"Lebanon is going through its worst economic crisis in history. The government and (presidential) term want to change the free economic system to something else,"said Hariri in remarks to reporters after meeting Maronite Patriarch Beshara el-Rahi in Bkirki.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian urged Lebanese authorities to initiate reforms in order to obtain financial support from the "international community" and save Lebanon’s crumbling economy from collapse, indicating that he will visit Beirut “within days,” media reports said on Thursday.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo reiterated in remarks from Washington that the United States is supporting Lebanon as long as it succeeds at imposing reforms and its government is not controlled by Hizbullah.

Lebanon on Wednesday confirmed 39 new COVID-19 cases, which is a significant one-day surge for the small country.