Supervisor Elham AbolFateh
Editor in Chief Mohamed Wadie

Par'l Adopts Precautionary Measures to Curb Coronavirus Outbreak


Sun 29 Mar 2020 | 09:11 PM
H-Tayea

Within the framework of the state's plan to take all necessary measures to counter the outbreak of coronavirus pandemic nationwide, the Parliament Speaker Dr. Ali Abdel-Aal decided to postpone the plenary sessions until April 12.

He added that the postponement comes in line with state efforts to ban gatherings that might lead to the spread of the coronavirus, noting that as MPs come from different governorates, it has become a necessity that they should not gather in one place.

Abdel Aal pointed out that the armed forces are tasked with disinfecting and sterilizing the parliament building.

The parliament speaker also ordered the formation of a crisis committee headed by Counselor Mahmoud Fawzi, Secretary-General of the House of Representatives, to be concerned with issuing decisions and taking measures to ensure the safety of workers.

The committee has adopted several precautionary measures aimed to curb the coronavirus outbreak:

- Disinfecting and sterilizing the parliament's main hall, specific committees and all meetings halls.

- Adopting strict decisions against those who propagate rumors over the epidemic.

- All workers don’t have to use fingerprint attendance machines and show their identity card, instead.

- Holding an educational seminar for workers and publishing medical guidelines over coronavirus response.

- Suspending all visits related to disseminating parliamentary culture.

- Closing the parliament mosque and suspending congregational prayers.

- Women, especially, who have children under 12, workers with underlying health conditions are exempted from work.

- Exempting MPs, who are residing outside Cairo, from attending the sessions.

- Keeping safe distances among employees at gathering places.

It is noteworthy that the Health Ministry said on Sunday 33 new coronavirus cases were detected, all of them are Egyptians, who were in contact with other positive cases.

“This upped the total number of confirmed cases to 609,” Khaled Megahed, the ministry’s spokesman said in a statement.

Four more deaths were confirmed; raising the total number to 40.

The new fatalities are Egyptians whose ages ranging between 58 and 84 years old. All of them are from Cairo governorate.

“Up to 132 coronavirus patients have totally recovered so far,” the spokesman said.

“11 Egyptians were among the recovered patients today,” he added.

Also, the number of coronavirus patients who had now been retested for the virus and had received negative results has reached 182, after getting excellent treatment in coordination with the World Health Organization (WHO).

The ministry has stepped up precautionary measures in the affected governorates and intensified campaigns to spread awareness about infectious diseases.

Megahed stressed that the ministry announced all positive and suspected cases nationwide.

The ministry raises its preparedness at all the country’s ports and airports to monitor the virus developments, receiving inquires from citizens about the virus through its hotline 105 or 15335.

The coronavirus has killed more than 31,900 people and infected over 680,600 around the world.