The Lebanese Ministry of Health has requested the government's Emergency Committee to implement a total lockdown in Lebanon for a period of two weeks due to a significant increase in coronavirus infections.

“We have submitted a recommendation to the COVID-19 governmental committee for a total lockdown, in order to make the essential preparations to accommodate the new infections and to prepare the hospitals for the colder seasons,” said the Lebanese Minister of Health, Hamad Hasan, during a press conference on Monday.

Hasan added, private hospitals must open departments which will only receive coronavirus patients. 

Lebanon has recorded 1,006 new COVID-19 cases and 11 deaths on Sunday.