Various Parliamentary meetings will be postponed for “general health concerns” over coronavirus, the General Secretariat of the Lebanese Parliament announced on Monday.

It said all meetings of the parliamentary committees held usually at the parliament premises will be postponed for the “safety of lawmakers.”

The Lebanese army and security forces continue to ensure that people stay at home to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus that has killed four people nationwide.

Health Minister Hamad Hasan on Monday denied reports claiming that people infected with coronavirus were flown in to Lebanon from Iran, adding that the next ten days of lockdown are very critical to decide on the next measures against the virus spread.

“Precautionary measures against coronavirus are very important but there no need to panic,” Hasan said in remarks to al-Jadeed TV as the country witnesses a two week lockdown.

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea on Sunday described the killing of former Khiyam Prison warden Antoine al-Hayek as “a stab in the heart of the Lebanese state before anything else.”

“The assassination of the citizen Antoine al-Hayek is a stab in the heart of the Lebanese state before anything else, as if someone is saying that they don’t believe in this state nor in its institutions, judiciary and security agencies,” Geagea said in a statement.

Social Affairs and Tourism Minister Ramzi Msharrafiyeh on Sunday announced that aid will be distributed “within a few days” to “needy citizens” affected by the coronavirus lockdown.

In a tweet, Msharrafiyeh said the government will mete out the aid in collaboration with the relevant ministries, the army and the municipalities.

Lebanon confirmed 18 more coronavirus infections on Sunday, raising the overall tally to 248, the Health Ministry said.

“There are also five cases reported by laboratories not accredited by the Ministry and they require re-confirmation at the Hariri hospital,” the Ministry said in its daily report.

Interior Minister Mohammed Fahmi on Sunday launched an executive plan to enforce the government’s emergency measures over coronavirus.

“The law will be implemented on everyone. Every violation threatening public safety will be suppressed and I won’t receive phone calls from anyone,” Fahmi said at a press conference.

A retired policeman was found killed Sunday morning inside his grocery shop in the town of Miyeh w Miyeh near Sidon, the National News Agency said.

MTV said he was shot by a silencer-equipped pistol from a close distance.

The army was on Sunday staging patrols across Lebanon and using helicopters over many areas to ask citizens to stay home and respect a lockdown declared by the government over coronavirus.

Army helicopters hovered over Beirut, the Bekaa, Keserwan, Upper Metn and Aley, according to the National News Agency and other reports.

Former Prime Minister Saad Hariri has appealed to all citizens, “to the fathers, mothers and young men and women all over Lebanon, to stay at home and deal with home confinement as the only safety line" against coronavirus.

He said on Twitter: “The coronavirus epidemic is a treacherous enemy... I appeal to you to remain home and deal with home confinement as the only safety line."