On Thursday, Egypt decided to extend nighttime curfew for another two weeks over coronavirus starting from Sunday, 14 June.
In a brief televised speech, The Minister of State for Information Osama Heikal announced that the curfew will begin at 8 p.m. and end at 4 a.m instead of a previous 5 am.
In addition, shops will be allowed to open until 6 p.m. instead of previously closing at 5 p.m.
According to the minister statements, the state will witness as of mid-June a gradual resumption of several activities, including sporting clubs and youth centres, while following precautionary measures against the virus. This may also include the gradual reopening of places of worship.
Egypt and coronavirus
Heikal's announcement is aimed at containing the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) after the number of infections reached 38,284 as the Ministry of Health announced the detection of 1,455 new cases on Wednesday. The total death toll amounted to 1,342, while the number of recoveries registered 10,289.
He confirmed that the governmental will continue to exert efforts to combat the outbreak of the pandemic.
The curfew was first introduced in March as part of a series of measures to curtail the spread of the virus and has been extended several times since. Other measures include suspending air traffic, shuttering schools and universities, closing mosques and churches and banning public gatherings.
Earlier, Dr. John Jabbour, the WHO representative, noted that in Egypt, 85% of the positive cases had recovered without treatment because their symptoms were simple, he said.
According to Jabbour, Egypt faces many challenges, topped by coordinating among all the health-related sectors and making the best use of the state’s revenues in the fight against the pandemic, in addition to addressing the social stigma associated with the disease and supporting the medical staff who are standing on the front-lines and risking their own lives to treat infected patients.
The WHO official urged all the people to follow protective measures and stay at home to protect themselves and their loved ones against the disease.
The ministry has stepped up precautionary measures in the affected governorates and intensified campaigns to spread awareness about infectious diseases.
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