BEIRUT, April 9 (Xinhua) -- Lebanon's council of ministers announced on Thursday the extension of lockdown measures in the country for two more weeks until April 26 in an attempt to restrict the spread of COVID-19, the National News Agency reported.
The decision was announced by Lebanese Minister of Information Manal Abdel Samad following a cabinet meeting chaired by President Michel Aoun.
On March 15, the council of ministers decided to declare general mobilization during the day and curfew from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. where all sea, land and air borders were closed in addition to public institutions, educational institutions, private companies and commercial stores except for food shops, bakeries and pharmacies.
Abdel Samad said that the council of ministers decided to take additional measures to control the movement throughout the country with some necessary exceptions.
"Prime Minister Hassan Diab confirmed that this is the fourth week of general mobilization and we must adhere more to the procedures since we cannot say that we have completely contained the virus," she said.
Abdel Samad quoted Diab as saying that the cabinet will distribute social assistance through the Lebanese army, while expanding the circle of beneficiaries amid serious control of prices.
Lebanon's number of COVID-19 infections increased on Thursday by 7 cases to 582 while death toll remained 19.
