Gov't closes Cairo, Giza shops violating closure decision over COVID-19

CAIRO – 20 March 2020: The authorities in the neighboring governorates of Cairo and Giza decided to apply deterrent measures against those violating the government’s decision to close restaurants, cafes and malls overnight, in a bid to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus.

Egypt on Thursday reported 46 new coronavirus cases and a fatality, bringing the total number of patients to 256 and raising the death toll to seven. The last fatality was a citizen in Giza.

The Cairo authorities said the governorate would shut down shops violating the decision and seal them with red wax, meaning they would not be reopened without a security permission. Shop owners will also pay a fine of LE 10,000 ($635).

In Giza, such violation will be considered a legal case and will require the violating shops to be sealed as well.

In this regard, Ahmed Rashed, the governor of Giza, led a campaign in the streets of Giza to enforce the closure decision. He ordered authorities to take all measures against the institutions that violate the decision.

















All restaurants, cafes, cafeterias, casinos, night clubs, bars, shopping centers (malls), and other local shops will shut down from 7:00 pm (Cairo time) to 6:00 pm across the nation, as a preventive measure by the government to curb the spread of coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19), announced the Egyptian cabinet in a statement on Thursday.

However, the decision excludes pharmacies, bakeries, grocery stores, supermarkets, and the delivery service, said Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouli.