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Egypt to Set New COVID-19 Restrictions at Mosques During Ramadan

Muslim worshippers observe social distancing, as they offer the evening prayer Taraweeh at al-Azhar Mosque in the Egyptian capital Cairo, during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan on May 17, 2020. (Source/AFP)
Muslim worshippers observe social distancing, as they offer the evening prayer Taraweeh at al-Azhar Mosque in the Egyptian capital Cairo, during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan on May 17, 2020. (Source/AFP)
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Egypt to Set New COVID-19 Restrictions at Mosques During Ramadan

Muslim worshippers observe social distancing, as they offer the evening prayer Taraweeh at al-Azhar Mosque in the Egyptian capital Cairo, during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan on May 17, 2020. (Source/AFP)
Muslim worshippers observe social distancing, as they offer the evening prayer Taraweeh at al-Azhar Mosque in the Egyptian capital Cairo, during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan on May 17, 2020. (Source/AFP)

Egypt decided to impose a number of restrictions during the holy month of Ramadan due to the recent surge in Covid-19 cases, including preventive measures at mosques.

While Tarawih prayers will be allowed during the holy month, they must be reduced to no more than half an hour.

Also charity iftar tables, Tahajjud, night prayer and staying for days in mosques for worshiping will be banned. Any large gatherings inside mosques, including celebrations and funerals, are also not allowed.

The Egyptian Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs called for the “strict implementation of the new measures.”

This comes as Egypt's COVID-19 daily infections exceeded 700, setting a new record since the start of the pandemic in the country.

According to reports, Egypt registered 712 positive cases on Friday and 46 deaths.

The new cases raised the total number of infections to 202843, of whom 15,5016 recovered while 12,041 died.

For his part, Health Ministry Spokesman Khalid Mujahid said: “We recently received the first shipment of AstraZeneca vaccines from the Global Vaccination Alliance, and the remaining doses are scheduled to be received periodically throughout 2021”.

In a televised statement on Friday, Mujahid said that the number of vaccination centers has increased from 40 to 139 after they witnessed a great turn out.

"This number is expected to increase during the coming period,” he noted, saying that Egypt is one of the least affected countries in the world in terms of covid-19 infections.

The official also stressed that hospitals in Egypt are fully ready and equipped to deal with Covid-19 patients.

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At Least 8 People are Killed When Passenger Train Slams into Minibus in Egypt

Egyptians look at the crash of two trains that collided near the Khorshid station in Egypt's coastal city of Alexandria, Egypt August 11, 2017. REUTERS/Osama Nageb
Egyptians look at the crash of two trains that collided near the Khorshid station in Egypt's coastal city of Alexandria, Egypt August 11, 2017. REUTERS/Osama Nageb
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At Least 8 People are Killed When Passenger Train Slams into Minibus in Egypt

Egyptians look at the crash of two trains that collided near the Khorshid station in Egypt's coastal city of Alexandria, Egypt August 11, 2017. REUTERS/Osama Nageb
Egyptians look at the crash of two trains that collided near the Khorshid station in Egypt's coastal city of Alexandria, Egypt August 11, 2017. REUTERS/Osama Nageb

A train slammed into a minibus that was crossing the tracks in an unauthorized location in norther Egypt on Thursday, killing at least eight people and leaving 12 injured, the government said.

The deadly crash took place in the Suez Canal province of Ismailia, the health ministry said. More than a dozen ambulances were sent to the scene, Reuters reported.

The Egyptian railway authority said the passenger train was on its regular route when the collision occurred. The place where the minibus was crossing the railway tracks is not designated for crossing.

Local Egyptian news outlets said the victims, who included children, were all take to East Qantara Central Hospital. One child was reported to be in critical condition.

Train derailments and crashes are common in Egypt, where an aging railway system has also been plagued by mismanagement. Last October, a locomotive crashed into the tail of a Cairo-bound passenger train in southern Egypt, killing at least one person. In September, two passenger trains collided in a Nile Delta city, killing at least three people.

In recent years, the government has announced initiatives to improve its railways. President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi said in 2018 that some 250 billion Egyptian pounds, or $8.13 billion, would be needed to properly overhaul the neglected rail network.