BEIRUT: Lebanon's Higher Defense Council Friday decided to impose a three-day shut down during every religious holiday in the coming weeks, and extended the state of general mobilization to contain the spread of COVID-19 by six months.

Caretaker Prime Minister Hassan Diab, during the HDC meeting warned that the COVID-19 spread is increasing and that there is a large portion of the population that is not adhering to prevention measures.

"It seems that we are on the verge of a third [coronavirus] wave, not just in Lebanon, but the world, and it could be more dangerous than its predecessors," Diab said, adding that he endorses the extension of the general mobilization measures.

The HDC meeting, chaired by President Michel Aoun was also attended by a number of ministers and chiefs of the Army and security forces. The council extended the nightly curfew to 10 p.m. until 3 a.m. and allowed retail shops and restaurants to open for an extra two hours starting Monday.

The HDC also extended the state of mobilization which ends March 31, for another six months until Sept. 30 and decreed a total shutdown of three days during the Easter holiday next month and Eid al-Fitr holiday in May.

Aoun at the beginning of the meeting announced that 50 percent of his presidential salary allocated from the 2021 state budget, which amounts to LL50 billion, will be distributed to those affected by the Aug. 4 Beirut blast in coordination with the Army. As of the dollar to Lebanese pound exchange rate Monday, LL50 billion amounts to around $3.9 million.

The 2021 state budget has also not been passed by Parliament yet.

The HDC tasked caretaker Finance Minister Ghazi Wazni with preparing a decree to allocate the LL50 billion to the blast victims.

The council also issued a decision that requires people to wear masks and calls for security forces to undertake the necessary measures against those who dont.

Caretaker Health Minister Hamad Hasan was also tasked to continue his work on securing the countrys oxygen needs for hospitals.

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