By Staff, Agencies

Lebanon confirmed a record number of 689 coronavirus cases and seven deaths Thursday, as the country prepares to relax lockdown measures.

Of the new cases, an alarming 680 infections were found among the local population. Only nine cases were detected among travelers from abroad.

There has now been a total of 146 deaths due to coronavirus complications.

The positivity rate among the 7,809 PCR tests administered over the last 24 hours was at 8.7%.

In August. the positivity rate among tests carried out on the local population stood at 6.6%. It stood at 0.82 percent in June and 2.14% in July.

Despite the apparent surge, the Interior Ministry announced that it would relax lockdown measures following pressure from people and businesses.

Starting Friday, curfew will now be implemented between 22:00 and 06:00. Businesses including restaurants, cafes, malls, markets and gyms will be permitted to operate at 50% capacity. People will also be permitted to enter public parks and the corniche before curfew.

The Interior Ministry’s announcement comes after Lebanon’s food and beverage sector said it would defy coronavirus lockdown measures earlier this week, due to a lack of government assistance during the economic crisis which has been compounded by the catastrophic Beirut Port explosion.