Lebanon has recorded 71 new coronavirus infections in 24 hours, the highest daily total yet, the health minister said, calling it a frightening number and urging people to wear masks in crowded places.

Lebanon has recorded just over 2,000 cases of coronavirus and 36 deaths since February.

“We are ringing the alarm bell,” Health Minister Hamad Hassan told Reuters, saying the tally of new infections over two days was 135.