Egypt's Sisi puts off inauguration of New Administrative Capital, Grand Egyptian Museum to 2021 due to coronavirus concerns
President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi instructed the government on Saturday to reschedule the inauguration of all the mega national projects which were planned for this year to 2021 in light of the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.
According to Presidential Spokesman Bassam Rady, the mega national projects include the relocation projects at the New Administrative Capital, as well as the inauguration of Grand Egyptian Museum and the National Museum of Egyptian Civilisation.
El-Sisi's remarks came during his meeting with Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly and Housing Minister Assem El-Gazzar, in which the president reviewed the strategy of work at construction sites.
Prior to El-Sisi's recent directives, the government's had planned to relocate ministries to the new capital by mid-2020.
The 700 square kilometre capital, launched in 2015 by President El-Sisi, can house more than 6.5 million people.
Rady said in a statement that the housing minister reviewed during the meeting the outcome of his recent meetings with officials of construction companies operating in different locations in the light of the repercussions of the coronavirus, "in order to ensure the continuity of work on the sites while preserving the safety of the workers."
El-Sisi ordered the adoption of all preventive measures at construction sites to maintain the safety of workers and provide them with the needed medical supplies.
Two days ago Madbouly said that the government is looking into providing workplaces like factories and construction sites, among others, with up to 1,000 vehicles that can function as clinics, in an initiative by Health Minister Hala Zayed.
The mobile clinics can provide workers with the necessary medical services and help in taking the necessary quick measures if any coronavirus cases are detected.
Egypt's health ministryreported 85 new coronavirus infections on Saturday, bringing the country’s total number of confirmed cases up to 1070, while the death toll stands at 71.
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