On March 19, the US Embassy in Beirut, Lebanon announced that it is now on “ordered departure” status and that the embassy will now be reduced to emergency staffing levels:

On March 18, 2020, the Department of State authorized the U.S. Embassy in Beirut to go on “ordered departure” status, which means the Embassy will be reducing personnel to emergency staffing levels.  The decision was based on a variety of factors, including the cessation of commercial transportation options out of the country, the increasing incidence of COVID-19, and associated burdens on a severely strained local healthcare system.

All routine consular operations remain suspended.  During this time, the Consular Section will be able to provide only limited emergency services to U.S. citizens on a case-by-case basis.  U.S. citizens with verifiable emergencies may contact BeirutACS@state.gov.  Additional information regarding availability of consular services and the status of the Embassy can be found on our website.

US Embassy Beirut remains a Level 3 Reconsider Travel country; the advisory was issued on October 21, 2019 due to crime, terrorism, armed conflict and civil unrest.

Related post:

• New Travel Advisories and Voluntary/Mandatory Departures: Micronesia (L3), Tajikistan (L3), Mongolia (L4) with a related nugget about Lebanon.
• US Embassy Beirut Hosts #USSRamage on “One-Day Goodwill Visit,” First Ship Visit to Lebanon in Over 30 Years.
• US Embassy Beirut and US Consulate Adana (Turkey) Now on Departure Orders for Non-Emergency Staff and Family Members.
• US Embassy Beirut Marks 30th Anniversary of Embassy Bombing in Ain El Mraise.
• New U.S. Embassy Beirut to Open in Lebanon in 2022

Latest daily update on #coronavirus by WHO Lebanon#covid-19 pic.twitter.com/OZb3O3CoWi

— WHO Lebanon (@WHOLebanon) March 18, 2020

Our response to CoronaVirus (COVID – 19) – Report Date:
18 March 2020, 3:00 PM

*The confirmed Corona cases are as reported by the Ministry of Public Health pic.twitter.com/rkyDHMXsc4

— Lebanese Red Cross (@RedCrossLebanon) March 18, 2020

Also in Lebanon:

Today a US Osprey landed at US Embassy in Beirut to ferry Lebanese-American Amer Fakhoury to freedom after being detained for working with Israel during the country's long war. https://t.co/puHx8S5Oz8

— Dion Nissenbaum (@DionNissenbaum) March 19, 2020