Coronavirus Crisis...Curfew Is Essential

The viral video of the Egyptian young girl narrating her harsh experience with Coronavirus, officially known as COVID-19, has broken my heart; she advises us in a difficult time, with tears and sad voice.

In her video, she said, "I would like to direct my message to millions via social media, whether those who are underestimating the seriousness of the disease or those who acknowledge the danger and are staying at their homes."

"I felt that it is important to speak to my family and friends, from inside the hospital's quarantine," she said. "My journey here started with mild symptoms, yet, I have tested positive for the disease."

The girl added that she thought that the virus would never infect her; she used to go out… travel, yet she discovered that she was completely wrong.."Never underestimate the disease," the girl continued.

She also advises people not to touch their faces with their unwashed hands, wash their hands, and keys immediately after returning home, and to disinfect everything they have touched. At the end of her video she said, "Please stay at your homes and do not commit my mistakes."…

I wished a speedy recovery for the girl and all patients who got infected with this damn virus...I appreciate her sense of responsibility towards her family and country, and the beautiful message she was keen to deliver through her video, which comes in line with the press statements of Information Minister's Osama Heikal, who has warned the citizens against the worst scenario the county would face if they do not follow the precautionary measures.

"The curfew " is the latest scenario the country will resort to based on the number of infections and the extent of the disease spread. After the number of injuries exceeded 100, Egypt has taken a number of precautionary measures to curb Coronavirus, including the closure of schools nationwide and the suspension of domestic and international flights, in order to keep new infections from entering our territories, and not to transmit the disease to other countries.

Egyptians should follow the preventive measures so that the government would not resort to other hard actions like isolating some areas- once infections reach thousands- via applying the last scenario.

Concerning the flights' suspension decision which came into force last Thursday, March 19,  Heikal confirmed that Egypt will not receive any foreigners during the coming period until the situation calms down. He also denied the isolation of Sharm al-Sheikh city after recording an infection case for an Italian man, noting that if the number of infections increases in any governorate, it will be completely locked down.

The minister noted that the continuation of schools' and flights' suspension will only happen based on the latest developments.

He added that next Thursday, the Egyptian cabinet will discuss decisions that will further reassure citizens about street crowds, stressing that deterrent measures, will be taken against all traders and speculators who are exploiting the current crisis to raise prices!

I have full trust in the crisis management committee, its wisdom, awareness, and follow-up to what's happening across the whole world, and its well-studied steps. But I appeal to the officials to take all necessary measures to counter this damn virus even if through imposing curfew at night nationwide so that we do not face the same fate of other countries that had neglected the virus, hence suffering various crises of Coronavirus disaster.

May God protect Egypt and its people against any harm…