Sisi Offers Condolences, Help to Italian People Over Coronavirus

President Abdel Fatah El Sisi extended his warm condolences to Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte over the victims of coronavirus in Italy, according to a Wednesday statement by presidency spokesperson Bassam Rady. 

Sisi stressed Egypt's solidarity with the Italian Government and people, asserting that the Egyptian are ready to provide whatever support to face this ordeal. 

On his part, the Italian premier expressed his sincere appreciation for Egypt's support in this crisis, which reflects the depth of the bilateral relations at all levels. 

Conte also said he looks forward to deepening the joint cooperation in the field of exchanging experiences between the competent authorities in the two countries in the framework of international efforts to combat the virus. 

Within the framework of bilateral relations, a number of issues related to joint cooperation were discussed based on the agreements signed during the Italian prime minister's recent visit to Cairo on January 14, in addition views were exchanged on some regional issues of common interest, particularly the developments of the Libyan issue. 

The latest developments in the Regeni case were also discussed in light of the current cooperation between the investigation authorities in Egypt and Italy, where President Sisi reaffirmed full support for the joint cooperation between the competent agencies of the two countries to reveal more details of the case.

Italy's Conte said on Thursday that all stores except pharmacies and grocery stores are being closed nationwide in response to the country's coronavirus outbreak.

All shops will be shuttered except supermarkets, food stores and chemists, and companies must close all their departments that are not essential to production.

The fast-moving crisis has seen Italy's number of coronavirus cases rise from three to 12,462 in less than three weeks.

Coronavirus has officially been declared a pandemic by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the number of cases outside of China had increased 13-fold in the past two weeks, but added "all countries can change the course of this pandemic".