Egypt Imposes Nighttime Curfew to Contain Coronavirus Outbreak
Egypt Imposes Nighttime Curfew to Contain Coronavirus Outbreak
(Bloomberg) --
Egypt imposed a countrywide nighttime curfew for two weeks, the broadest measure yet taken to contain the spread of the coronavirus in the Arab world’s most populous nation.
The 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew that starts Wednesday was announced by Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly on national TV.
Authorities will deal firmly with anyone who flouts the curfew, with punishments ranging from hefty fines to jail time, Madbouly said, as he also called on people to reduce travel between Egypt’s provinces.
The North African country, which has reported 366 confirmed cases including 19 deaths, has stepped up measures in the past week to stem the outbreak. Authorities had already suspended international flights until the end of March, banned mass gatherings, shuttered cinemas, mosques and churches and halted communal prayers. Madbouly said the current suspension of schools and universities will continue for a further two weeks.
Egypt’s Central Bank to Bolster Bourse as Sisi Urges Caution
President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi this week urged Egyptians to continue to exercise caution, stressing that vigilance was key to ensuring that the nation avoids an explosion in cases.
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