CAIRO: Egypt’s government announced on Wednesday several new anti-coronavirus health measures to combat the new surge of infections in the country.
The measures will begin from Thursday and last for a two-week period.
Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly said during a press conference that all shops, malls, restaurants, cafes and cinemas will close at 9 p.m., but that home delivery services will continue to operate as normal.
He added that all gatherings, conferences and celebrations held in social and sports clubs, restaurants and hotels will be banned.
Madbouly also said that the Eid Al-Fitr holiday will start on May 12 and end on May 16.
All gardens, parks and public beaches will be closed, and public buses will not operate during the holiday, he added.
Eid prayers will be held at the same mosques where Friday prayers are held with, precautionary measures already in place, he said, adding that children will be prohibited from entering mosques.
Madbouly said that Egypt has “succeeded in positively controlling the pandemic,” but that weak points in the Egyptian health system still exist due to circumstances around the world.
He added that Egypt “acted quickly to handle the shortage in coronavirus medications during the first wave,” and that all medical supplies and medications are now available.
He said that all hospitals and medical facilities are open, adding that the Fever Hospital has been upgraded and developed. There is an hourly follow-up of the oxygen availability system in Egypt, as per the instructions of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, he said.
Madbouly added: “We took action in Sohag when there was a shortage of ventilators and intensive care beds. We covered the shortage and added extra beds to respond to the needs of the people. We continue to follow up with each governorate to respond to its needs on a daily basis.”
