BEIRUT, March 11 (Xinhua) -- Lebanon allocated on Wednesday 39 million U.S. dollars, from a loan given by the World Bank, to fight against the novel coronavirus, MTV local TV channel reported.
Besides announcing the cancellation of flights to some countries, Prime Minister Hassan Diab said all Lebanese people currently in other countries, such as France, Britain and Spain, have the chance to return within four days.
Diab said that he ordered public departments and municipalities to keep only a small number of employees to ensure operations.
He also ordered to stop gathering in public places such as shopping malls while asking workers in production sectors to take precautionary measures.
He assured that there will be an increasing number of hospitals capable of receiving COVID-19 patients.
Lebanon's Health Ministry confirmed on Wednesday that the number of COVID-19 cases had increased to 61 and a second death case caused by the virus was registered.
News about the virus raised fears among Lebanese citizens who flocked to supermarkets to buy daily needs to avoid going out in the coming days.
