Health ministry reports record increase in confirmed coronavirus cases

Lebanon has witnessed a record increase in new confirmed coronavirus infections in a single day with 255 new cases reported on Thursday.

A health ministry statement said the new tally brings the total number of reported cases to 5,672 and 70 deaths.

The pandemic had deepened the country's financial woes, with lockdown orders to prevent the spread of the virus plunging the country further into economic depression.

Health Minister Hamad Hassan had warned that coronavirus cases will rise after the port blast, which left thousands homeless.

"Due to the emergency and panic, I am worried that treating the wounded in hospitals and the loss of personal protection equipment supplies may have an impact on the number of coronavirus patients in the next 10 days," Hassan said earlier on Thursday.