Egypt’s PM Makes New Package of Decisions to Confront Coronavirus

Dr. Mustafa Madbouly, Prime Minister, added two new articles to the decisions that he has announced during a press conference held at the cabinet headquarters today.

Those new two decisions are part of the implementation of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi’s assignments to the government to develop precautionary measures used across the state to confront the spread of the novel Coronavirus.

The two articles stipulate the temporary suspension of the international air traffic in all Egyptian airports.

Airports will continue to stop serving planes and passengers until the end of April 15, 2020, Cairo time.

On the other hand, hospitals, medical centers, and their personnel continue to provide treatment services.

Also, all media outlets and their personnel continue to carry out their activities, without being bound by any of the established dates which were mentioned above.

The Premier’s decisions stated that the dates specified in the previous ones made earlier today, regarding the stopping of all public and private mass transportation from seven in the evening until six in the morning, do not apply to vehicles that transport medicines, medical supplies, petroleum and food supplies, as well as agricultural crops, vegetables, fruits, and the like.

Egypt has declared a curfew from 7 pm to 6 am for two weeks starting on Wednesday (Mar 25) to counter the spread of coronavirus and those who violate the measure will be penalized under the country's emergency laws, the prime minister said.

"A closure of schools and universities, which were shut on Mar 14 for two weeks, will be extended for a further two weeks," Prime Minister Mustafa Madbouly said.

Most public services and government offices will close their doors to the public during the curfew period and a measure to limit the number of government employees going to work will be prolonged until mid-April.

"The government has also allocated one billion Egyptian pounds (US$63.69 million) to the health ministry to help it provide supplies," a statement from the cabinet office said.

Egypt has confirmed 366 cases of coronavirus, including 19 deaths.

It has taken a series of measures to prevent the spread of the virus, including ordering all cafes, shopping malls, sports clubs, and nightclubs to shut from 7 pm until 6 am since Mar 19.

It has also grounded commercial flights and shut mosques and churches.