The government is expected to discuss monetary and economic matters during a meeting at the Grand Serail, al-Joumhouria daily reported on Tuesday.

Health Minister Hamad Hasan announced Monday evening that Lebanon’s coronavirus infections tally now stands at 120, noting that only three cases have not been traced to a source.

In an interview on LBCI TV, the minister added that eighty percent of the 120 infected people “do not have symptoms.”

Finance Minister Ghazi Wazni on Monday expressed his rejection of a decision by the Association of Banks in Lebanon to close banks until March 29 over the coronavirus crisis, urging the public prosecution to take “swift action.”

Accusing ABL of breaching the government’s instructions on keeping banks open despite the closure of the majority of public and private institutions in the country, Wazni described the Association’s move as “rushed.”

The Association of Banks in Lebanon announced Monday that the country’s banks will close until March 29 except for operations related to ATMs, salaries and the food, oil and medical sectors.

The government had announced Sunday that banks would remain open to maintain essential transactions despite the closure of most public and private institutions and businesses over the coronavirus crisis.

Al-Jadeed TV reporter Rachelle al-Husseini collapsed Monday during a live broadcast from the al-Masnaa border crossing.

Al-Husseini and several other reporters were in the area to cover the closure of the country’s main border crossing with Syria as part of Lebanon’s two-week lockdown in the face of the coronavirus pandemic.

Lebanon went into lockdown Monday after the government announced a two-week state of “general mobilization” and ordered the closure of public and private institutions as well as the country’s airport and land and sea ports of entry.

Traffic was thin across the country and in some cases streets were completely empty on Monday, the start of the working week. Restaurants, cafes and bars have been closed since last week and most private businesses were also shuttered Monday.

Lebanon on Monday said the novel coronavirus has recorded a new tally reaching 109 individuals infected, the National News Agency reported.

The General Secretariat of the Parliament announced Monday the postponement of next Wednesday meeting in Ain-el-Tineh and the sessions of the parliamentary committees.

Health Minister Hamad Hassan on Monday said the coming two weeks are the most critical in Lebanon’s attempt to fight coronavirus which claimed the lives of three individuals and infected 99 so far.

The Minster said: "The next two week are very important and the weather conditions may play an important role in mitigating the latest measures imposed to combat the spread of the virus.”

Defense Minister Zeina Akar on Monday said the Cabinet took the “maximum” measures at the present moment in relation to the challenges of coronavirus, noting that a state of emergency can “only be declared in specific cases that do not apply at this phase,” al-Joumhouria daily reported on Monday.

The government declared general mobilization on Sunday over the coronavirus crisis and announced a two-week lockdown of the country.