BEIRUT, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) -- Lebanon registered on Sunday 1,685 new COVID-19 cases, raising the total number in the country to 355,056, the Health Ministry said.

Meanwhile, the death toll from the virus went up by 43 to 4,340.

Caretaker Health Minister Hamad Hassan urged on Sunday all the Lebanese to register for COVID-19 vaccination, emphasizing the importance of vaccines in curbing the death toll from the virus.

Lebanon started a week ago its vaccination campaign, targeting the health and medical staff and the elderly aged 75 and above in the first phase.