People wearing protective face masks push shopping trollies inside a Carrefour hypermarket, amid concerns over the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in the Cairo suburb of Maadi, Egypt May 15, 2020. REUTERS
With the coronavirus outbreak still going strong in Egypt and the infection rate still on the rise, the Egyptian government is taking measures to reduce crowding during the Eid El-Fitr religious holiday, which is expected to begin on 24 May.
Ahram Online has made a list of the new measures adopted to curb the spread of the virus during Eid.
- The nationwide curfew has been prolonged by four hours to now begin at 5pm and run until 6am from 24 till 29 May.
- All shops, malls, beaches, parks, public gardens and other recreational venues will be completely shut during the six-day period.
- All public transportation modes will be out of service from 24 till 29 May.
- Coach trips and intercity trains will be suspended.
- The mass Eid El-Fitr prayers will be performed at home this year as mosques continue to be closed.
- Wearing protective face masks will be mandatory in public places starting 30 May, with violators to face penalties.
- Citizens will not be allowed to enter institutions or take private or public transportation without masks.
- The curfew will be shortened once again following the week of Eid to start at 8pm and run until 6am for another two weeks, until mid-June.
- As of 30 May, shops and malls will once again be allowed to open through the week but will be required to close at 5pm.
- As of mid-June, restaurants, sporting clubs and youth centres will be allowed to reopen .
- Reopening places of worship and resuming religious activities will be considered starting mid-June.
- High school (thanaweya amma) exams will be postponed for two weeks to start on 21 June.
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