Before the pandemic erupted, Lebanon was struggling with its worst economic crisis in decades, with 45 percent of the population facing poverty according to official estimates.
Lockdown measures to slow the spread of the virus have made matters even worse.
Lebanon is home to 4.5 million people, and also hosts around 1.5 million Syrians who have fled the nine-year war next door, most of whom rely on aid to survive.
Nevertheless, Lebanon’s higher defense council advised the government on Thursday to extend the country’s month-long Coronavirus shutdown by another two weeks until April 26.
The cabinet is expected to take the decision in a session on Thursday. The council also called for a crack down on violations of the lockdown and overnight curfew.
A government report on Wednesday put the number of infections at 575, with 19 deaths.
