On Wednesday, Lebanon’s Supreme Defense Council agreed to extend the general mobilization until the end of 2020. In light of that, the Interior Minister introduced some amendments to the lockdown rules.
According to the updates to the official decision, which will take effect Friday, August 28th at 6 AM, the imposed curfew will start at 10 PM and end at 6 AM every day.
Public institutions and administrations will continue to open in accordance with the adopted official schedule, and the responsible ministers will be tasked with setting the operational capacity of employees, which must exceed 50%.
The following are the most notable of the new schedules with their applicable conditions:
Artisans and self-employed persons: From 6 AM until 6 PM.
- Organizing the inflow of customers based on turns to avoid crowding is mandatory.
Retail businesses, book stores, museums, commercial companies, and malls: From 6 AM until 10 PM.
- Organizing the inflow of customers based on turns to avoid crowding is mandatory — cinemas and kids’ playgrounds (and “kids zones”) must remain closed.
Restaurants, cafes, and fast food outlets: From 6 AM until 10 PM.
- Restaurants may open with an operational capacity that does not exceed 50%.
- Adopting a reservation system to organize customer inflow is mandatory.
- “Kids zones” must remain closed.
- Serving hookahs is prohibited.
Taxis and public transport vehicles: From 6 AM until 10 PM.
- Each taxi driver may transport no more than 3 passengers at once.
- Vans and buses must not exceed a third of their respective passenger capacities.
- Face masks are mandatory inside vehicles at all times, for drivers and passengers, except in the cases where members of the same family are alone in one car or when the driver is alone.
Construction sites and concrete plants: From 7 AM until 6 PM.
- Opening on Sundays and holidays is prohibited.
Outdoor sports: From 6 AM until 10 PM.
- Audiences are prohibited from attending.
Gyms: From 6 AM until 10 PM
- The number of customers must not exceed 50% of each gym’s operational capacity.
- Regular disinfection is mandatory.
- Organizing the inflow of customers based on turns to avoid crowding is mandatory.
Public parks and corniches: From 6 AM Until 10 PM.
Businesses and institutions that may open for up to 24 hours:
- Factories: Working schedules are determined based on a shift system.
- Wholesale markets for fish, meat, fruits, vegetables, and poultry.
- Warehouses for the distribution of medicinal drugs and medical equipment.
- Mills and bakeries.
- Sales halls.
- Money exchange and transfer institutions, banks and monetary institutions, and brokerage firms.
- Security companies.
- Hotels and furnished apartments.
- Maintenance teams of Electricity of Lebanon (EDL) and its contractors, and maintenance teams of electric generators, internet, water, telephone, and the two telecom companies (Touch and Alfa).
As per the new measures, schools (including special needs schools and learning centers) and nurseries will remain closed until a reopening time is announced by the Education Ministry and the Health Ministry, respectively.
The following preventive measures are mandatory for citizens and private business owners throughout the lockdown:
- Using a face mask to cover the mouth and nose
- Committing to the adopted public health guidelines and safety procedures, including regular disinfection.
- Avoiding crowds and committing to safe distancing principles.
- For businesses: Adopting an appointment or reservation system wherever possible, depending on the nature of the business and its work.
To view the full, detailed Interior Ministry document, click here.
