A general view of Cairo's downtown street on Wednesday March 25.2020, during the first hours of the coronavirus curfew in Egypt
Egypt's streets are deserted on Wednesday evening with most Egyptians remaining in their homes as the overnight curfew came into force at 7 pm.
The two-week-long curfew is in effect from 7pm to 6 am as part of stricter measures to reduce the spread of the coronavirus in Egypt, which has registered more than 400 infections since the fast-spreading contagion first appeared in the country in mid-February.
Cairo's downtown streets and roads, which are usually buzzing with activity, have been vacant and serene as all commercial and entertainment venues like malls, coffee shops, clubs, and restaurants have been closed under the curfew.
Images have gone viral on social media showing people rushing after work hours to catch the Cairo metro before the last train stops operating with the start of the curfew.
Police have been deployed in the streets to enforce the curfew, and authorities have warned that those who break the curfew are subject to penalties under the country’s emergency law, which range from a fine of EGP 4,000 ($253) to imprisonment.
Cairo's downtown streets and roads, which are usually buzzing with activity, have been vacant and serene under the curfew
All commercial and and entertainment venues have been closed under the new precautionary measure
President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi stressed in a tweet on Wednesday the importance of abiding by the precautionary measures the country is taking to preserve Egyptians' safety.
"We can succeed in our mission through everyone’s cooperation," he assured. "We will pass these hard times… which will be a memory of the past."
Egypt reported 40 new coronavirus cases on Wednesday and one new death.
The new cases bring the country's total number of infections to 442 and the fatalities to 21.
Short link: