Al-Mustaqbal Movement leader ex-PM Saad Hariri returned Friday to Beirut after spending several months abroad.

The Health Ministry released its daily statement on the number of coronavirus cases on Friday reporting five new cases raising the tally to 668.

The US Ambassador to Lebanon Dorothy Shea affirmed in an interview with LBCI TV station that the Lebanese Armed Forces is a basic pillar of Washington's assistance, pointing out that Washington is trying to transfer some of its assistance programs to ensure that it responds to the needs on the ground.

In response to a question on whether Washington’s assistance to the Lebanese army is linked to weaken Hizbullah in Lebanon, Ambassador Shea said: “Our relationship with the Lebanese government is complex and multifaceted. There is a lot of concern in Washington about the way this government was formed and whether it would really assert its independence as a technocratic government, and therefore, it has taken my government a bit of a "wait and see" approach. They are assessing the performance of this government, not only based on words, but also on their actions.

The Lebanese Army dispersed a group of protesters -defying the government’s lockdown over coronavirus- in the northern city of Tripoli who had taken to the streets late on Thursday in protest at the deteriorating living conditions in the country.

Interior Minister Mohammed Fahmi said the precautions taken to counter the spread of the novel coronavirus outbreak must not be alleviated until the virus is totally controlled, al-Joumhouria daily reported on Friday.

Prime Minister Hassan Diab announced Thursday that “at least 98 percent” of bank deposits will not be affected by any financial measures that might be taken in the near future, as he launched a “stimulus and social safety” plan to address the repercussions of the coronavirus crisis.

President Michel Aoun on Thursday lashed out at what he called "arbitrary criticism" and "insults."

Prime Minister Hassan Diab announced Thursday that the coronavirus lockdown and the so-called state of general mobilization could be extended beyond April 26.

Lebanon registered five new cases of the novel coronavirus COVID-19 on Thursday raising the tally to 663.

The Health Ministry said in its daily report that Thursday’s cases were all recorded among Lebanese residents, noting that no infections were registered among Lebanese expats repatriated recently from abroad.

Speaker Nabih Berri called lawmakers for three consecutive Parliament meetings next week at the UNESCO Palace in Beirut instead of the Parliament building in Beirut’s Nejmeh Square.