Lebanon returns to lockdown for four days

May 12, 2020

Lebanon announced a four-day lockdown today, reversing its previous decisions to open the country back up amid the coronavirus crisis.

Lebanese President Michel Aoun announced the decision by the country’s executive body, the Council of Ministers, on Twitter today.

“The Council of Ministers made the decision for a complete closure for a period of four days,” Aoun tweeted.

What the lockdown will entail was not immediately clear. The Interior Ministry will follow with a statement on guidelines and exceptions. It will go into effect tomorrow night, according to Aoun.

The announcement comes during an increase in confirmed coronavirus cases in Lebanon following days of low numbers. After several days of fewer than 10 new cases, Lebanon registered 34 on May 6 and then 36 on May 9. Lebanon registered 11 new cases today, according to Ministry of Health statistics.