Egyptian Information Minister Osama Heikal on Thursday announced that Egypt will reopen its tourism and aviation sectors in the coastal governorates starting July 1.
Egypt’s coastal areas, Heikal pointed out, have seen far fewer coronavirus infections than other parts of the country.
The Egyptian government on Thursday also decided to reduce the country’s curfew hours starting Sunday. The curfew will now be from 8 pm to 4 am, Heikal said.
The government will also study the prospect of reopening houses of worship as of July 1 in governorates that are less affected by the coronavirus, he added.
Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly on Thursday chaired a meeting for the Supreme Committee for Managing the Novel Coronavirus Crisis to discuss a number of different issues, including the country’s gradual return to normal life.
The meeting discussed precautionary, preventive and coexistence measures during the next stage of the government’s fight against the virus.
Egypt on Wednesday confirmed 1,455 new coronavirus cases, bringing the country’s number of confirmed total cases so far to 38,284.
Thirty six cases died on Wednesday, bringing total deaths from the virus to 1,342.
Health Ministry Spokesperson Khaled Megahed added that the total number of fully-recovered cases rose to 10,289, all of whom have been discharged from isolation hospitals.
Megahed added that the governorates that recorded the highest rates of coronavirus infection are Cairo, Giza and Qalyubia, while the governorates of the Red Sea, Matrouh and South Sinai recorded the lowest rates of infection.
He appealed to citizens to adhere to preventive measures and social-distancing measures, especially in governorates with high infection rates.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
