The Egyptian parliament's secretary-general Mahmoud Fawzi told reporters on Monday night that MPs have decided to contribute a three-month bonus to the Tahya Masr fund to help the state in fighting the coronavirus.

"A statement will be issued on Tuesday announcing the total amount of MPs' donations," said Fawzi.

Parliament speaker Ali Abdel-Aal sent a message to MPs this week asking them to contribute a three-month membership bonus to the Tahya Masr fund as a signal of solidarity with the state in its current war against the coronavirus.

Abdel-Aal's message said that "in light of current honest efforts exerted by the state and its different institutions in fighting the coronavirus which has infected all the world’s countries, I call upon you to realise the necessity of joining these efforts."

"I invite you to donate your membership bonus (EGP 5,000 per month) for three months (EGP 15,000, or around $1000) to the Tahya Masr fund to help Egyptians who were infected with the virus, and I am sure that you are at the forefront of state institutions which are keen on maintaining the health and safety of citizens," said Abdel-Aal, adding that "MPs who refuse to contribute to the Tahya Masr fund should show this in the form of a written request to be submitted to the speaker within three days."

Secretary-general Fawzi said that MPs have shown an unprecedented response to the speaker's request.

Tahya Masr was founded by Egypt's President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi following his election in 2014.

Parliament is scheduled to hold its plenary meetings on Sunday – 12 April – but this may prove difficult if the government decides next Wednesday to extend the curfew for another two weeks.