Egypt’s NCHR calls for treating Covid-19 victims of medical team as ‘martyrs’

CAIRO – 10 April 2020: The National Council for Human Rights (NCHR) proposed to treat the medical personnel who died of coronavirus or during their work fighting the spread of the virus, as “martyrs.”

This came during the council's monthly meeting that was held for the first time via the internet, in order to discuss the measures taken by the government to combat the spread of the virus.

The NCHR expressed its appreciation for the measures taken by the government to combat the spread of the virus, suggesting releasing detainees on medical reasons, especially the elderly and those suffering chronic diseases.

The council further proposed boosting the budget of the health sector to expand in carrying out tests to determine the infected cases earlier.

As the number of Coronavirus infection cases rose, Egyptian authorities announced halting visits to all prisons last month. The council also called on finding alternative ways for families to contact their imprisoned relatives, like phone calls, and to provide prisoners with their needs of money, according to the prisons’ regulations.

The Ministry of Interior also assured that preventive medical teams continue to sterilize all prison facilities, as part of the precautionary measures taken by the ministry over the coronavirus (COVID-19).