Egypt's medical syndicate has called on Health Minister Hala Zayed to include doctors in the categories covered in the latest coronavirus preventative measures, especially those measures related to paid time off.

Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly issued a decision granting some public workers exceptional paid leave, to reduce the number of public servants at workplaces as a precautionary measure to prevent the spread of the pandemic.

The decision includes employees who suffer from chronic diseases, those who are pregnant, and those who are caring for a child under the age of 12. Those who work in vital facilities including hospitals are excluded.

The syndicate emphasised the importance of granting days off to high-risk groups such as those with chronic diseases and pregnant women, and mothers who care for children under 12 years old, according to a letter sent to the minister on Thursday.

The syndicate complained that many workplaces have refused to grant exceptional leaves to doctors with chronic diseases, which could increase the probability of illness transmission among medical staff and their families.

Health care workers make up around 13 percent of the confirmed coronavirus cases in the country, according to the WHO's representative in Egypt, John Jabbour.

The syndicate also criticised the "intransigence" of some of the health ministry's institutions in approving the requests for normal, "obligatory" vacations like parental leave.
Kareem Mosbah, a member of the syndicate board, told Ahram Online that the decision should be amended to cover doctors.

"Doctors, like all other groups, need days off to handle their recent circumstances, especially after suspending schools nationwide,” he said.
“Their families need them … female doctors at least should be given the exceptional vacation," he added.

Mosbah pointed to the increased work pressure at health ministry hospitals, especially referral and isolation hospitals, amid the pandemic, adding that the situation requires the stress on medical staff be eased.

Egypt has recorded 2,673 coronavirus cases and 196 deaths so far.