Coronavirus becoming weaker worldwide: Egyptian Cabinet

CAIRO – 12 June 2020: The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) started to become weaker worldwide, the Egyptian Cabinet’s spokesman said, adding that around 85 percent of the cases recover normally.

In an interview with dmc, spokesman Nader Saad said tourism is the sector affected the most with the coronavirus crisis in Egypt, noting that domestic tourism will be back starting July 1.

Restoring tourism worldwide will be a gradual and slow step, Saad said, adding that many people now fear traveling due to the novel virus. He said tourism companies aim at organizing trips to Egypt and Greece, in case flights are back.

The Egyptian state’s high commission to manage the coronavirus crisis said on Thursday the country will resume international flights to the coastal governorates impacted the least with the novel virus, starting July.

The decision includes the governorates of South Sinai, the Red Sea and Matrouh. South Sinai includes cities of Sharm El-Sheikh, Dahab, Nuweiba' and Taba, known to be among the most popular tourist attractions in the northeastern African country. Red Sea includes Hurghada.

Egypt has so far reported 39,726 coronavirus cases, 1,377 deaths due to the novel virus and 10,691 recoveries.

State Minister of Media and Information Osama Heikal earlier on Thursday said public gardens and beaches will continue to be closed in all governorates until June 30.

The government will shorten curfew hours nationwide to start on 8 P.M. and end on 4 A.M. instead of 5 A.M., starting Sunday, June 14th.

The Egyptian state has set a plan to restore all activities in the country step by step, the state minister said.

The state is also considering reopening worship places in the governorates impacted least by coronavirus (COVID-19) starting July, he added.

Commercial centers and shops nationwide will be allowed to open daily until 6 P.M. instead of 5 P.M.