More than 6K arrested for violating COVID-19 curfew in Egypt

CAIRO - 18 May 2020: Egyptian security forces arrested 6,261 people for violating the night-time curfew in the last 24 hours nationwide, announced the Ministry of Interior in a statement on Monday.

The security forces also confiscated 1,226 vehicles, 169 motorbikes, and 185 tuk-tuks, violating the curfew that has been imposed in Egypt since mid-March to curb the spread of the new coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

According to the daily briefing on the COVID-19 outbreak in Egypt, a total of 535 people have tested positive for coronavirus in Egypt on Monday, bringing the total number of cases to 12,2764, the Health Ministry said in its daily briefing.

The ministry also reported 15 deaths due to the novel virus, bringing the total number to 645.

Egypt's Prime Minister Mustafa Madbouli on Sunday announced a bundle of measures as part of the state’s plan to restore normal life amid the coronavirus crisis, including the situation during next week, which includes Islamic Eid Al-Fitr holiday.

In a press conference attended by a number of ministers, Madbouli said the world started to move toward plans to "co-exist" with the coronavirus, so the Egyptian state and people have to work on restoring normal life, while taking into consideration some preventive measures.

Next week, all shopping centers, malls, restaurants, beaches and parks will be closed, Madbouli said. Also, public transportation will be halted.

A night curfew between 5 p.m and 6 a.m. will be imposed between Sunday, May 24th and Friday, May 29th, he added.

As Muslims gather during the Eid prayers twice a year in massive numbers inside and around mosques, Madbouli said the Eid prayers will not be held this year as they will only be broadcast from one of the state's mosques, with the attendance of few employees who work in this mosque.

Additional reporting by Amr Kandil