The Lebanese government announces a state of emergency on Monday, March 16, due to the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus. Individuals in Lebanon are urged to stay at home and limit all non-essential movement. Shops, restaurants, schools, universities and the airport are closed. The government uses the imposed lockdown to crack down on the protest movement. On March 27, the riot police forcibly clears dozens of people from protest encampments and destroys their tents in Downtown Beirut.