New procedures to combat the coronavirus
- Health Minister Hamad Hasan announced that additional measures will be taken to limit the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus with the assistance of the World Health Organization, which has equipped and prepared Rafic Hariri Hospital to receive potential cases. He also stressed that the condition of the infected patient was improving.
- The Emergency Health Committee will adopt stricter measures at Beirut's airport and will impose a temporary travel ban on areas where cases of coronavirus infection were recorded.
- Minister of Information Manal Abdel Samad announced in a joint press conference with Minister Hassan the establishment of a national media and health committee to combat coronavirus-related misinformation. Abdel Samad urged the media to maintain transparency when covering the disease, stressing the importance of highlighting scientific information.
On day 129, protesters denounce banks' policies
- Two marches began from Sassine Square in Ashrafieh and the Concorde in Verdun, respectively. Protesters then headed towards Martyrs' Square in central Beirut. The demonstrators raised slogans against the Central Bank's policies and expressed their refusal to pay the Eurobonds on March 9. In Hamra, protesters threw eggs at the Central Bank's building, which led to skirmishes with security forces. The two rallies met on Bechara El Khoury and stopped in front of the Association of Banks before reaching Martyrs' Square.
- In Tyre, protesters marched from Al-Alam square, raising slogans against the payment of the Eurobonds and the authority of the Governor of the Central Bank, Riad Salameh.
Lebanon's Agriculture Research Institute: no fear of locust in Lebanon
- The Lebanese Agricultural Research Institute (LARI) stated that locusts will not reach Lebanon as long as the weather remains cold.
- Rumors about locusts arriving in neighboring countries, coupled with old photos and videos circulating on social media, have caused public panic. LARI, however, denied that locusts had reached Jordan, Syria, or occupied Palestine.
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