Lebanon’s health ministry announced on Wednesday that 280 new COVID-19 infections were reported over the past 24 hours, along with 7 deaths.

The total number of confirmed cases stands now at 539,271 while the overall tally of fatalities is 7,697.

On May 21, a Lebanese committee following up on COVID-19 precautionary measures took a series of new recommendations, chief among which the deferral of elections for all syndicates in Lebanon due to the pandemic situation and the opening of cinemas and theaters until 11 PM.

The most important recommendations are so follows:

1- Those coming from Brazil should have a negative PCR test result that shall be made 96 hours prior to their date of travel to Lebanon. The arrivals must undergo another test at the Beirut airport and must be quarantined for 5 days in a hotel specified by the Ministry of Tourism. During this period, they shall undergo a PCR test and shall be self-confined at home in case the result came positive.

2- National and foreign diplomatic missions should be excluded from the above-mentioned procedure with regards to the hotel quarantine provided that they abide by self-confinement for 5 days at their own residences.

3- Elections for all syndicates in Lebanon should be postponed for 4 weeks until it is confirmed that the pandemic situation has abated.

4- Cinemas and theaters should be allowed to reopen until 11:00 PM.