The COVID-19 outbreak has “translated into a major education crisis” and while many countries, including Lebanon, switched to distance teaching and learning to mitigate the effects of such disruption, challenges related to preparedness, infrastructure and capacity, as well as the digital gaps, have put additional strains on students, parents, teachers, principals and the educational authorities, the U.N. said Friday.

The Cabinet on Friday endorsed a five-phase plan to reopen the country and end the coronavirus lockdown, following a recommendation from the Higher Defense Council and directions from Lebanon's anti-coronavirus committee.

The first phase will begin on April 27, the second on May 4, the third on May 11, the fourth on May 25 and the fifth on June 8, the Cabinet said.

The Health Ministry announced eight new cases of coronavirus on Friday, raising the total number of people who retracted the virus to 696.

Prime Minister Hassan Diab praised the Lebanese Army’s role in maintaining the country’s stability and "deterring any attempt to tamper with security."

The Syndicate of Money Changers in Lebanon led by Mahmoud Mrad announced late on Thursday suspension of trading from Friday until Monday in a “warning” measure against the continued downward spiral of Lebanese Pound to the US dollar.

Reports claiming that the Cabinet plans to “dismiss” Central Bank Governor Riad Salameh from his post are “inaccurate,” Nidaa al-Watan newspaper reported on Friday.

Anti-government protesters on Thursday blocked the vital Dbaye and Jiye highways and the road outside the central bank in Hamra and started gathering in Tripoli's al-Nour Square, as Lebanon's currency continued its downward spiral against the dollar and reached a new low.

In line with the COVID-19 pandemic crisis and on the occasion of the 8th annual ‘National Day of Students with Learning Difficulties,' the British Council and the SKILD Center in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MEHE) organized a unique e-Conference that joined over 900 participants from 17 different countries to address “Inclusion in Times of Distancing”.

Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri on Thursday called on the government to “practice its legal and procedural authorities to halt the dramatic collapse of the Lebanese lira exchange rate.”

Lebanon on Thursday confirmed six more COVID-19 coronavirus cases, which raises the country's tally to 688, the Health Ministry said.