Casino du Liban Reopens as 3rd Phase of Easing Lockdown Begins

Monday 11th May 2020

Casino du Liban reopened Monday its games, fast food and bar sections as Lebanon started the third phase of a reopening plan despite a sudden and significant spike in coronavirus cases.

In a statement, the casino explained the precautionary measures that it will take.

The measures include a "sanitizing tunnel" at the entrance, body temperature checks, the distribution of masks to willing customers, the disinfection of machines and tables and providing customers with hand sanitizers, the casino said.

"The casino's administration asks customers to wear masks throughout the duration of their stay at Casino du Liban, in line with the binding social distancing measures, knowing that the games rooms will operate in a limited capacity," the casino added.

It also called on customers to contact the casino to inquire about the rooms' capacity, "especially at peak hours between 8pm and 1am."

The third phase of the plan also includes the reopening of construction sites, cement plants, the state-run Motor Vehicle Inspection Center, financial brokering and bourse-related firms and shopping centers that are smaller than malls. Restaurants and cafes will meanwhile be allowed to up their customer capacity from 30 to 50% and buses (24-33 passengers) will be allowed to operate.

Interior Minister Mohammed Fahmi had on Sunday revised the night curfew hours to begin at 7pm instead of 9pm and warned that all non-essential private and public institutions will be re-closed should some citizens continue to breach the coronavirus precautionary measures.

The minister's warning comes amid Lebanon's biggest spike in weeks in the numbers of confirmed coronavirus cases with 36 recorded on Sunday and 13 on Saturday.

Health Minister Hamad Hasan had issued a similar warning and Cabinet is expected to review the measures in its session on Tuesday.