Egypt cancels celebration of Isra and Mi'raj due to coronavirus

CAIRO - 14 March 2020: The Egyptian Ministry of Awqaf [Endowment ] decided to cancel an annual religious festival due to the coronavirus (Covid 20219) outbreak, amid fears of increasing the number of infected people.

Minister of Endowment Mohamed Mukhtar Gomaa announced that the celebration of Isra and Mi'raj (Prophet Mohamed's journey from Mecca to Jerusalem and his ascension to the seventh heaven) due on March 20, 2020, will not be held, adding that Mosques Imams will give Friday sermons on the Isra and Mi'raj journey.

The minister also noted that televised preaching will be broadcast for the people on the lessons learned from Prophet Muhammad’s journey, sending his best wishes for all Muslims on the occasion of this event.

On March 9, 2020, Egypt’s government banned all large community events and gatherings until further notice to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

Last week, Mukhtar stated that Egypt has no need now to cancel Friday prayer for coronavirus outbreak. His comments were stated during a press conference on humanity in Islam in the Faculty of Theology at Al Azhar University.

Coronavirus disease has forced many countries to suspend their flights around the globe after the infected cases reached 145,963 people and 5,440 deaths were reported so far. Five days ago, the virus was announced a global pandemic by the World Health Organization.

“WHO is deeply concerned by the alarming levels of the coronavirus spread, severity & inaction, & expects to see the number of cases, deaths & affected countries climb even higher. Therefore, we made the assessment that COVID19 can be characterized as a pandemic,” said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus announced in a press conference.

In Egypt, the Health Ministry on Friday confirmed 13 new Coronavirus (Covid-19) cases, bringing the total number of infections to 93.

The thirteen cases who tested positive for the new Covid-19 include eight foreigners and five Egyptians, the ministry said, adding that the new cases had dealt with the previously confirmed cases.