Thank You, Mr. President

After the decision to suspend schools, and universities nationwide for two weeks starting from today, we cannot fail to thank President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, from the bottom of our hearts, giving priority to mothers and their children.

The country has exerted great efforts in combating the Coronavirus, preventing gatherings, parties, and activities, including celebrations of Isra and Mi'raj, the birth of Al-Sayyeda Zainab, as well as schools and universities’ graduation parties. However, the major problem was the continuation of the education process, as the gatherings in schools and universities are much higher than anywhere else, and the virus can spread within seconds.

The importance of the suspension decision appeared when breaking news broadcast two days ago via one of the private satellite TV channels, announced the shut down of schools for two weeks; so Egyptians houses were filled with contentment and joy and the families exchanged phones and congratulations, yet after a few minutes later, official sources declined the news, so we all got frustrated, as we have no one dearest to our hearts than our sons…

We have all followed up the education minister's efforts including, the campaign that has been applied to all public and private schools, the knowledge bank and the online campaign to eliminate private tuition... and other campaigns through which students can study remotely from home.

The normal thing is that online teaching will take place over the next two weeks to protect our children and youth in schools and universities, as they are considered Egypt real wealth... Thank God, the decision of the president to temporarily close schools and universities. The move has made all of us happy and assured, as well as the Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly's decision to suspend schools and universities before the bad weather conditions.

Dr. Madbouly’s suspension decision was brave and decisive; it confirms that it is important to take the appropriate decision at the right time, before it is too late for any official, regardless of his position, whether to confront unprecedented weather conditions or an outbreak of dreaded virus, in order not to face the same fate as Italy.

Thank God the decision of the president came at the right time. The possible fate for us is thousands and thousands of people who would get sick for months to come.

Most people (more than 70%, according to statistics) can recover without treatment in hospital, yes, some will not even experience any symptoms, but there are elderly people with immune dysfunction who will need medical care to survive, as well as those who are suffering from obesity, diabetes and high blood pressure, and heavy smokers.

We need to work from home, a study from home, pray at home… I know that total isolation is not beneficial to anyone or even the immune system, but we need to avoid large gatherings in indoor areas as long as we could.

We need this urgently today before tomorrow... Otherwise, we may see many of our parents and grandparents admitted in hospital beds and put on the waiting list for 3 to 10 weeks due to full capacity. This is what is happening in Italy now!

Please... If you run a company, ask your employees to work from home. If you run a school, go to online learning. If you do not want to pray at home, go to a smaller mosque. We cannot stop this emerging virus from spreading overnight, but we can certainly cross the top of the curve or flattening the curve, as the British say!

Fear, terror, and hysterical panic are not good, at the same time; excessive dependency and false confidence are not in our interests at all, as the damn virus would not stop by washing hands! ... Yet by decisive confrontation and speedy decision-making ... Thank you, Mr. President.