The Definitive Guide to Living in the Capital , Cairo , Egypt

Image credit: The Philadelphia Inquirer

The Egyptian government recently announced new preventative measures to contain the second wave of COVID-19 and a “zero tolerance” policy for those who fail to adhere.

To curb the alarming rise of coronavirus cases in Egypt, the government issued a new policy imposing a 50 LE fine on those who do not wear a mask in a public setting.  The new measures will apply to metro stations, railways, public transport, malls, shops, restaurants, cafes, and government buildings, including banks. If the fine is not paid, the case will be taken to prosecution for further action.

Another fine of 4,000 LE will be imposed on cafeterias, restaurants, and pubs that do not operate at 50% capacity, and will be forced to close for a week.

Egypt’s Ministry of Health announced a total of 138,062 cases, and related deaths of 7,631 so far, with 1,226 new infections and 53 deaths this last week alone. The government hopes that this new policy will be the realistic push Egyptians need to comply and eventually curtail the rising infection rate.

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) website, “COVID-19 spreads mainly from person to person through respiratory droplets. Respiratory droplets travel into the air when you cough, sneeze, talk, shout, or sing. These droplets can then land in the mouths or noses of people who are near you, or they may breathe these droplets in.”

“Masks are a simple barrier to help prevent your respiratory droplets from reaching others. Studies show that masks reduce the spray of droplets when worn over the nose and mouth.”

In conclusion, masks are essential in controlling the virus. Whether or not the government plans strict implementation of the new policy will be evident soon enough, and will certainly pay off if applied correctly. And if there’s a chance our actions will directly affect the future of this country, why not start with ourselves?