Two days ago, I felt very sad when I saw the white-tiled area surrounding the Kaaba and Mecca's grand mosque, empty of worshippers. I have never seen this scene before, so I prayed to God to protect us from this nightmare, wishing to overcome this dreaded Coronavirus soon, as scientists are speculating that virus would not survive long in a warmer environment.
Saudi Arabia has all the right to temporarily suspend Umrah pilgrimage over fears of the new coronavirus spreading to the holy cities of Mecca and Medina, and to require a PCR certificate on the entry of arrivals from specific countries.
In Italy and South Korea, all festivals were canceled, and matches were held without fans.
As for the Chinese city of Wuhan, the epicenter of the Coronavirus epidemic, it has turned into a ghost town; shops, supermarkets, and factories were closed and the streets appeared empty of pedestrians. Not surprisingly, the number of deaths with this damn virus surpasses 3400, including more than 3000 in China.
In full transparency, a joint statement issued by Egypt and the World Health Organization (WHO) last Friday announcing that 15 Egyptians have been infected with this virus.
A tribute to the courage, and bravery of our Health Minister Dr. Hala Zayed, who traveled to China to study the situation closely and to support the Chinese state in the fight against this virus, as well as Egypt's wise decision to evacuate Egyptian citizens from the Chinese city of Wuhan and quarantined them for 14 days under the supervision of qualified medical staff, to make sure they don't carry the virus.
In an official statement, the courageous health minister announced that fifteen cases have tested positive, including 12 cases confirmed Friday in Luxor, an Egyptian national returning from Serbia passing by France and two foreigners.
She also added that all the confirmed cases had been moved to the Negelah Central Hospital in Marsa Matrouh, while those who were in contact had been submitted to a 14-day quarantine.
"Precaution is a must" and we should take all the necessary measures to preserve our health. No need for panic; the health minister has objectively and transparently reiterated that no infected or suspected cases have been detected in all governorates of the republic except what has been already announced!
Moreover, health ministry should launch a campaign to warn people about ways to raise their immunity until a treatment or vaccine for the disease is shown, and another campaign to raise public awareness of the importance of responsible personal and public hygiene; piles of garbage are still everywhere, threatening our lives, health and spreading diseases and viruses ... and people still deal with them with excessive slackness.
As long as there are infected cases, we should never be tolerated, as the virus is sweeping the globe. God bless Egypt and its people.
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