by naharnet --- The government on Sunday declared “general mobilization” over the coronavirus crisis and announced a two-week lockdown of the country. The lockdown measures include asking citizens to “stay home unless it is extremely necessary” and a two-week closure of public and private institutions as well as the airport and the land and sea ports of entry. The airport will be closed from Wednesday until March 29 to all flights except for cargo planes and passenger planes carrying UNIFIL members, diplomatic crews, staff of international organizations and employees of firms linked to oil and gas drilling in Block 4 of Lebanon’s Exclusive Economic Zone.

Lebanese citizens, foreign family members and holders of Lebanese residency permits will meanwhile be allowed to return to Lebanon from March 15 until March 18 on the condition that they test negative for coronavirus after taking PCR tests. “This decision does not apply to those coming from countries already under a travel ban: France, Egypt, Syria, Iraq, Germany, Spain, the UK, Italy, Iran, China (including Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan), and South Korea,” the Cabinet said in a statement issued after an emergency meeting and recited by Information Minister Manal Abdul Samad. The closure of institutions, from March 15 until March 29, will meanwhile exclude public institutions that perform vital tasks and private firms related to “food security” and the medical sector as well as banks, money exchange shops and import and export companies. “We are in a health emergency and the government declares general mobilization until March 29,” Prime Minister Hassan Diab said after the cabinet session. “It is time for cooperation, mobilizing capabilities, volunteering and making initiatives to save others and the Lebanese,” he added.

BEIRUT (ChurchMilitant.com) - Jules Gomes -- A Maronite Catholic priest has taken to the skies with the Blessed Sacrament to "bless and protect" his homeland as the coronavirus spreads across Lebanon. With his monstrance, crucifix and and a statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Fr. Majdi Allawi Haqq Qurban hired a private plane and flew over Beirut and other parts of Lebanon last Saturday "pleading with the Lord to protect Lebanon" from the virus. The French and Arabic speaking priest, who spoke briefly to Church Militant from Armenia, said that the purpose of flying over Lebanon with the Real Presence of Jesus was to "bless the country, protect the homeland and heal those who have been infected by the virus."

The flight, led by Captain Khalil El-Khoury and student pilot Joseph El-Masry from the Beirut Wings flying school, took over two hours as Lebanon's Health Ministry reported that the number of confirmed coronavirus cases had risen to 77 with three fatalities. We fear the coronavirus but we are not afraid of God. This is a chance to repent.Tweet Explaining from the words of St. Paul how "nature itself was convulsing on creation" the priest warned: "This is a chance to repent and return to God ... It's time to wake up. It's time to amaze the Lord by our faith. It's time to ask God's mercy for all the humanity." In the video above, Fr. Allawi can be heard praying in Arabic: "We ask God to help us today and keep all sickness and epidemics away and to heal all those who are infected by the coronavirus and to bless the country and save it and most importantly to be with us." Catholics on social media responded ecstatically to the priest's demonstration of faith in the Blessed Sacrament. "We're going to bless all the atheists and there's nothing they can do about it," a Catholic ordinand tweeted. Thousands responded in Arabic with comments of praise and thanksgiving to Fr. Allawi's post on Facebook describing his flight with the Blessed Sacrament.

by NAJIA HOUSSARI -- Arabnews -- BEIRUT: Lebanese people experienced terror on Thursday night when a severe storm ravaged mountain and coastal regions, uprooted trees, caused floods and destroyed cars, refugee tents and public statues. Several flights were diverted to Larnaca and Antalya airports after strong winds made landings at Beirut Rafic Hariri International Airport impossible. The frightening weather conditions came on top of the novel coronavirus outbreak in the country.

Social media users described their experience as they stayed at home in line with the government’s directives aimed at limiting the spread of the virus. “Lebanon is flying” was the second most trending hashtag after “Stay home”. Users switched from mocking the situation to sensing its gravity. “Here comes nature’s wrath after the unemployment, dollar, Eurobonds, banks and imported coronavirus crises. The night of strong easterly winds uprooted trees, damaged buildings and affected people. Disasters, disasters and the greatest disaster of all is the dark horizons. May God protect what is left of Lebanon,” tweeted former minister, Akram Chehayeb. The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the country has exceeded 80, and includes an employee of the Ministry of Health. “The infected employee works in the Ministry’s central administration. The virus was transmitted to her by one of her relatives,” the Ministry of Health announced, noting that “we are taking all the necessary measures to isolate her, identify those who were in contact with her inside and outside of the Ministry and make sure they self-quarantine at home.”

By REBECCA COLLARD -- Goods flew off the shelves at a supermarket Wednesday in Beirut as Lebanon announced new travel restrictions in response to the novel coronavirus. By Thursday, supermarket shelves were restocked, but the country faces a unique problem in the midst of the pandemic. Almost everything Lebanon consumes is imported — and COVID-19 has struck as Lebanon slides deeper into a dire financial crisis brought on by government corruption and mismanagement. Since October, protesters have been in the streets demanding a new government and an end to the country’s sectarian political system. The Lebanese lira has lost around 40% of its value against the US dollar in recent months. That means everything is going up in price, especially imported goods — which comprises most food, medicine and medical supplies.

At a supermarket in Beirut, Dr. Abraham Hadid, an orthopedic surgeon, pushed a shopping cart filled with canned tuna, corn, soda water and instant coffee. “I’m buying everything I need for a long time,” he said, wearing a face mask and plastic gloves. “I don’t want to come back here because of corona.” Hadid says Lebanon has good doctors and a relatively strong health system, but that system is strained by the economic crisis. That will hurt the country's ability to respond to the outbreak of COVID-19. As of Friday there were 77 confirmed cases and three deaths in Lebanon, and the numbers are rising. “All the equipment we need, needles … serum, the prices of everything are increasing,” Hadid said. “We have two crises so close.”