Egypt has achieved remarkable positive economic indications despite the novel coronavirus pandemic, announced Egyptian Prime Minister Mustafa Madbouly during a cabinet meeting.
Madbouly urged Egyptians to continue to adhere to all precautions, including maintaining social distance and wearing face masks in crowded places, warning that violators will be penalized.
"If the country's coronavirus cases resurge, the government will be forced to resort to strict measures that we were suffering from," he stressed.
He asserted that Ministers of Interior and Transportation must implement the decisions of the coronavirus crisis management committee, including wearing face masks while using public transportation and inside of government departments and other facilities.
Madbouly said the resurgence in some countries is due to the lack of awareness and non-compliance with the preventative measures, asserting that adhering to measures will prevent a similar scenario.
The Egyptian authorities impose a fine of EGP4000 for not wearing face masks in public places or when using public transportation, as part of the country’s plan to “coexist” with the coronavirus.
Meanwhile, Interior Minister Mahmoud Tawfik said that the ministry will work to compel citizens to wear masks in public, announcing that any violator will be immediately penalized. He stated that there is an average rate of 2,500 violations per day.
Health Minister Hala Zayed reviewed during the cabinet meeting the current coronavirus situation in the country, and said that the weekly infection rate continues to decline for the fifth consecutive week. She indicated that cases dropped to 4,360 between July 18 and 24, compared to 5,413 cases during the period of July 11-17.
Zayed quoted the report World Health Organization (WHO) which indicated that Egypt is one of the countries with the lowest coronavirus rates in the Middle East region, stressing at the same time, the need to follow precautions and adhere to recommendations to maintain the flatness of the infection curve.
She announced that the ministry is closing youth hostels which were used to treat coronavirus cases since June 8 after all cases have recovered.
Zayed stressed the need to adhere to precautionary measures during the Eid al-Adha holiday, such as wearing face masks to avoid infection, maintaining social distance and refrain from shaking hands with people.
The measures also include preventing the gathering of large numbers of people in public places for Eid activities.
The Minister urged individuals aged 60 years or over or anyone with chronic diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease, to avoid gatherings because they are more prone to infection.
