Egypt’s Health Ministry on Friday reported 201 new COVID-19 cases and seven deaths, taking the total toll in the country to 4,092, including 294 deaths, reported Xinhuanet.
In a statement, the spokesman for Egyptian Health Ministry, Khaled Megahed, confirmed that all the new cases are Egyptians, adding that 71 cases have left hospitals in the past 24 hours after fully cured, raising the total number of coronavirus recoveries in the country to 1,075. The number of coronavirus cases whose tests turned from positive to negative increased to 1,334. The COVID-19 pandemic has affected almost 2.7 million people and killed over 190,000 across the world.
To curb the spread of coronavirus, Egypt has already suspended schools and universities, closed entertainment places and malls, halted flights, cancelled sports activities, stopped mass prayers and shut down museums and archeological sites.
On Thursday, Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly announced renewing a nationwide nighttime curfew during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan that starts on Friday. The government increased the hours of curfew by one hour. The night-time curfew hours were shortened to start from 9:00 pm to 6:00 am during the holy month of Ramadan.
Shops and malls will remain open during both the week and weekend until 5 pm. But pharmacies, bakeries and small-scale markets will remain open beyond the curfew times. All the areas of communal worship such as churches and mosques will continue to be closed to gatherings.
Egypt’s President Sisi warned that tougher and difficult measures will be taken if COVID-19 crisis escalates and citizens fail to abide by the current social distancing measures being taken.
Moreover, on Thursday, the Egyptian Parliament also approved legislative amendments which would enable the Ministry of Health to render face masks and other preventative measures obligatory if need be. The cabinet is also reviewing the possibility to allow domestic tourism, amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis, based on precautionary measures and studies.
Cabinet spokesman Nader Saad said the authorities will take the decision within the next few days.
