General Security chief Maj. Gen. Abbas Ibrahim said it was the Directorate’s responsibility to control money exchange shops in order to stabilize the dollar rate to the Lebanese pound, noting that a new BDL circular will be issued regarding medium bank deposits, al-Joumhouria daily reported on Thursday.

Health Minister Hamad Hasan on Wednesday toured the northern regions of Bsharri, Zgharta and Tripoli to assess readiness against the coronavirus pandemic.

In Bsharri, Hasan toured the Saint Mamas state-run hospital and the municipal building, stressing “the importance of the measures that have been taken in Bsharri to confront the coronavirus pandemic.”

Prime Minister Hassan Diab on Wednesday made a surprise inspection visit to a major Lebanese supermarket.

Lebanese citizen H.M. and a number of young men on Wednesday forced the closure of a bank branch in Tyre, the National News Agency said.

Lebanon recorded an increase in the number of people infected with coronavirus, recording 27 new cases on Wednesday including 11 Lebanese expats, without new deaths.

President Michel Aoun chaired the security meeting at Baabda on Wednesday emphasizing the need to strengthen security and military efforts to counter the spread of the novel coronavirus pandemic.

Prime Minister Hassan Diab’s media office on Wednesday described as “fabricated” the claims that Lazrad financial adviser suggested the seizing of all bank deposits for the State’s benefit.

Exploration works for oil and gas off the Lebanese coast suggest the “existence” of gas, which means excavation work was not affected by the coronavirus crisis, al-Joumhouria daily reported on Wednesday.

Lebanon’s SGBL bank on Tuesday announced a second initiative addressed at small depositors, in line with the central bank’s latest circular on exchange rates and withdrawal limits.

“Our bank would like to assure that, as of the morning of Wednesday, April 8, 2020, it will begin implementing (the central bank’s circular) through an easy electronic process, to the benefit of all small depositors who have accounts containing up to LBP 5 million or $3,000,” it said in a statement.

Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah on Tuesday extended gratitude to the Lebanese Health Ministry and the country’s medical crews over their efforts against the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I thank all state officials, all the concerned ministries and all the people who are in Lebanon fighting the battle against the coronavirus pandemic that is threatening the lives of everyone,” Nasrallah said in a televised speech.