Fingerprint biometric attendance system suspended in some Egyptian institutions

CAIRO - 9 March 2020: Amid fears of coronavirus (covid 19) outbreak in Egypt, some governmental and judicial institutions stopped using fingerprint biometric attendance systems nationwide.

Egyptian Attorney General Hamada al-Sawy suspended the fingerprint biometric attendance system for judges and public servants in the prosecution offices all over the country until further notice, as a preventive measure against the virus.

As per the decision, only investigators, accused people, lawyers and witnesses should be present during the investigations while relatives are not allowed to attend at the prosecution offices. Face masks should be worn by employees when they deal with foreigners, the decision said.

In Minoufa governorate, Upper Egypt, governor Ibrahim Ahmed Abu Laimon suspended the fingerprint biometric system for the state servants’ attendance until further notice, according to a statement from the governorate.

The new decision will start being applicable from Monday, March 9, the statement said, noting that the employees will, instead, sign in attendance sheets.

Meanwhile, some national and private banks are studying to replace the system of fingerprint biometrics with biometric cards, Masrawy reported a banking source on Sunday, added that some banks already contracted with cleaning firms to disinfect the ATMs on a daily basis.

The new decision coincided with the cabinet decision of banning large community events and gatherings until further notice due to the virus.

The Egyptian Health Ministry on Sunday announced seven new coronavirus cases in the North African country, bringing the total number of infected persons to 55 including Egyptians and foreigners.

In an interview with Al-Hekayah on MBC Masr, Health Ministry Spokesman Khaled Megahed said the cases include the nurse of the infected Egyptian citizen who came from Serbia, an Egyptian citizen coming from Muslim pilgrimages in Saudi Arabia, two relatives of an infected foreigner and another person who was on board a Nile cruiser in Upper Egypt.

This comes after the ministry reported the first death in Egypt due to the deadly virus, a German tourist who tested positive for coronavirus on March 6.