Egypt bans exporting masks, infection prevention supplies

Doaa A.Moneim , Tuesday 17 Mar 2020

Large quantities of such products had been exported to countries with major outbreaks of the coronavirus, creating a shortage in the domestic market

mask
A security guard at Cairo University wears a protective mask following the suspension of study for only undergraduate students amid coronavirus disease (COVID-19) spread, in Cairo, Egypt March 15, 2020 (Reuters)

Egypt’s minister of trade and industry issued two decrees on Tuesday banning the export of infection prevention supplies, including face masks and alcoholic materials, for three months as of publishing the decrees in the official gazette.

According to the ministry’s statement, the decision aims to ensure the supply of these products as part of the government’s measures to protect people from the impacts of the coronavirus outbreak.

The decrees were issued after coordination with the health ministry and manufacturing companies, the statement said, adding that large quantities of such products had been exported to countries with major outbreaks of the virus, creating a shortage in the domestic market.

 

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