Supervisor Elham AbolFateh
Editor in Chief Mohamed Wadie

Egypt Halts Public Transport, Closes Parks, Shops on Sham El-Nessim


Thu 16 Apr 2020 | 06:32 PM
H-Tayea

On Thursday, the Egyptian Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouli announced the halt of all public transportation including (metro, trains, buses) on Monday which marks Sham El-Nessim holiday.

He also ordered the complete closure of all shops, malls, beaches, public parks and gardens will be on that day in a step aimed to curb the coronavirus outbreak.

The Egyptian Premier wished Egyptians happy Easter holiday, urging them to avoid gatherings and social celebrations.

Madbouli also directed the governors and security forces to focus on coastal governorates, and to use “utmost force” in deterring attempts at gathering and violating state measures against the pandemic.

Sham El-Nessim is a national holiday in Egypt which marks the beginning of spring and falls directly after Coptic Orthodox Easter. It is an ancient festival which draws in Egyptians regardless of their religious background or social status. Many usually gather with their families in public parks, squares, and on beaches and Nile boats, to eat traditional fish dishes. 

This year, however, gatherings could pose a serious threat with the spread of the coronavirus in Egypt. Citizens, particularly seniors, have been asked to stay home and practice social distancing to control the spread of the virus. However, most factories and companies are still working, with many employees still going to work.

 Egypt has so far registered 2505 Coronavirus cases, including 183 deaths.

It is worth mentioning that, more cases of the virus, which causes respiratory disease COVID-19, continue to emerge, with outbreaks in South Korea, Italy, and Iran.

People across the globe partake in self-isolation for 14 days as an effective precautionary measure to protect those around them and themselves from contracting COVID-19.

Transmission of virus between humans happens when someone comes into contact with an infected person’s secretions, such as droplets in a cough.

It can also be transmitted by coming into contact with something an infected person has touched and then touching your mouth, nose or eyes.

The global death toll of new coronavirus “COVID-19” is dramatically increasing, hitting128972

Meanwhile the number of coronavirus confirmed cases registered two millions and 246 thousand and 75 cases globally.