The tally of individuals retracting the COVID-19 coronavirus in Lebanon rose to 809, with 13 new cases recorded on Saturday.

Smuggling operations through illegal crossings to neighboring Syria continue to run diesel oil and flour from Lebanon to Syria-- two substances subsidized by the Lebanese state beside medicines-- which will further deplete the state’s ability to provide basic commodities to the local market, Asharq al-Awsat newspaper reported on Saturday.

Speaker Nabih Berri considers the situation in Lebanon requires “quick and instant” measures to stop the economic deterioration, al-Joumhouria quoted Ain el-Tineh sources on Saturday.

MP Hasan Fadlallah of Hizbullah's Loyalty to Resistance bloc on Friday said the fight against corruption in Lebanon is more difficult than the war with Israel.

Lebanon recorded twelve more COVID-19 coronavirus cases and one more virus-related death over the past 24 hours, the Health Ministry said on Friday.

Commissioner of the International Human Rights Commission (IHRC) in the Middle East Haitham Abu Saeed said that Lebanon should sign the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) in order to combat corruption as “sought by Lebanon’s President and PM,” the National News Agency reported on Friday.

Education Minister Tarek Majzoub announced a gradual resumption of classes on Friday, explaining a phased resumption of activities in schools and universities starting May 28 until the end of July.

Gharbis Eradian, chief economist for the Middle East and North Africa MENA, at the Institute of International Finance IIF, said the IMF may request some “conditions” in order to approve the financing of Lebanon’s rescue plan, al-Joumhouria daily reported on Friday.

Lebanon has arrested the head of the money changers' union as it battles to stabilize the value of the country's nose-diving currency on the black market, a security official said Friday.

"The head of the money changers' syndicate, Mahmoud Mrad, was arrested (Thursday) at the request of Lebanon's financial prosecutor" on charges of "tampering" with the value of the Lebanese pound, the official said.

The Health Ministry announced on Thursday 34 new cases of coronavirus, 33 of them in Lebanese expats repatriated home after the outbreak of coronavirus.