Egypt covid-19 cases rise

Egypt reported 298 new cases of covid-19 on 2 May, bringing the total in the country to 6,193, the second highest number of infections in Africa after South Africa with 6,783 case.

This was the highest number of new daily cases since the start of the outbreak in the country. According to World Health Organisation figures a total of 415 people have died in Egypt, compared with 131 in South Africa.

At the end of April President Al-Sis extended the nationwide state of emergency for another three months on the grounds of both the health and the security emergencies.

The emergency measures include not just health requirements but also anti-terrorist measures such as arrest and home searches without warrants, as well as summary trials and imprisonment for terrorist suspects and media censorship. This is the twelfth time these emergency measures have been extended since 2017.

Measures against the spread of covid-19 include the suspension of commercial flights, restricted hours for retail outlets (other than grocery stores, bakeries and pharmacies) from 06.00-17.00 Sunday to Thursday, with total closure on Friday and Saturday. A curfew from 19.00-06.00, which is starting two hours later during Ramadan. Fines or imprisonment will be imposed on offenders.

Schools, universities, restaurants, clubs, sporting events and tourist sites remain closed.