عربي English Türkçe اردو فارسى
Logo
Latest News
Arab World

Egypt's Awqaf Urges Citizens to Abide by Coronavirus Precautions

Egyptians gather in front of the Central Public Health Laboratories in downtown Cairo as they wait to get tested for the coronavirus (COVID-19) on March 8, 2020. (AFP)
Egyptians gather in front of the Central Public Health Laboratories in downtown Cairo as they wait to get tested for the coronavirus (COVID-19) on March 8, 2020. (AFP)
TT
TT

Egypt's Awqaf Urges Citizens to Abide by Coronavirus Precautions

Egyptians gather in front of the Central Public Health Laboratories in downtown Cairo as they wait to get tested for the coronavirus (COVID-19) on March 8, 2020. (AFP)
Egyptians gather in front of the Central Public Health Laboratories in downtown Cairo as they wait to get tested for the coronavirus (COVID-19) on March 8, 2020. (AFP)

Egypt’s Ministry of Endowments (Awqaf) warned citizens against defying the preventive measures in place to help limit the spread of the coronavirus in the country.

The ministry urged all Egyptians to adhere to all precautions announced by the health authorities, namely maintaining social distance and wearing masks at all gatherings, public places and means of transportation.

It emphasized, in a statement Monday, the importance of adhering to the measures at all mosques and keeping all shrines closed during these times.

It stressed that mosques should only be open during prayer times, and Friday sermons must be limited to ten minutes.

The ministry called on all advocacy and supervisory bodies in all directorates to closely monitor citizens' adherence to the measures, warning that any person violating them will be held accountable.

The Health Ministry confirmed 358 new coronavirus cases on Monday, as the country’s total reached 115,541, including 102,596 recoveries. It announced 15 deaths, bringing the fatalities to 6,636 nationwide.

The ministry said it was increasing its readiness all over the country to follow the epidemiological situation first-hand, stressing that it is taking all necessary preventive measures against any viruses or infectious diseases.

In addition, the Minister of Health Hala Zayed announced that the medical teams participating in the "100 Million Healthy Lives" initiative have been trained on approved treatment protocols and various medical equipment.

Over 21.5 million citizens have been tested as part of the initiative launched in 2018, aimed to screen more than 52 million citizens for hepatitis C (HEP. C) and Non-Communicable Disease (NCD).

Zayed explained that safe passages have been designated to guarantee that patients who are COVID-19 positive are not mingling with other patients while entering and exiting hospitals or medical units.

She stressed that all necessary preventive and precautionary measures including social distancing are maintained during the provision of the initiative's services.

Most Viewed

 
 
Arab World

Israeli Settlers Briefly Crossed into Lebanon, the Military Says

UN "blue line" notifications are pictured near the Lebanese-Israeli border as seen from the southern Lebanese village of Kfar Kila, Lebanon October 14, 2022. (Reuters)
UN "blue line" notifications are pictured near the Lebanese-Israeli border as seen from the southern Lebanese village of Kfar Kila, Lebanon October 14, 2022. (Reuters)
TT
TT

Israeli Settlers Briefly Crossed into Lebanon, the Military Says

UN "blue line" notifications are pictured near the Lebanese-Israeli border as seen from the southern Lebanese village of Kfar Kila, Lebanon October 14, 2022. (Reuters)
UN "blue line" notifications are pictured near the Lebanese-Israeli border as seen from the southern Lebanese village of Kfar Kila, Lebanon October 14, 2022. (Reuters)

A group of Israeli settlers have briefly crossed the border into Lebanon before they were removed by troops, the military acknowledged Wednesday.

The civilians who crossed the border came from the Uri Tzafon movement, a group calling for Israeli settlement of southern Lebanon. Photos posted by the group online Saturday showed a small group of activists holding signs and erecting tents inside Lebanon while Israeli soldiers were present.

After first denying the reports to Israeli media, the military said Wednesday that civilians had crossed the border “by a few meters” and were removed by troops.

The military called the border breach a “serious incident” and said it was investigating.

“Any attempt to approach or cross the border into Lebanese territory without coordination poses a life-threatening risk and interferes with the IDF’s ability to operate in the area and carry out its mission,” the military said, using the acronym for the Israel Defense Forces.

The settler group Uri Tzafon, which means “Awaken the North” in Hebrew, crossed the border in the area of the Lebanese village of Maroun al-Ras. In the past, the movement has said the area is home to an old Hebrew settlement.

Groups of settler activists also have breached the Gaza border more than once since the Israel-Hamas war erupted on Oct. 7, 2023, at one point erecting small wooden tents before they were evacuated by troops. Daniela Weiss, the leader of the movement to resettle Gaza, claims she has entered Gaza twice since the start of the war.

Israel’s settler movement has been emboldened by its current government -- the furthest-right in Israeli history -- and is now seeking to expand to parts of southern Lebanon and the north of the Gaza.