Egypt presses ahead with plan to lift restrictions despite surge in infections

Egypt recorded its third consecutive high in coronavirus infections as authorities ended a six-day lockdown.

On Friday, the country’s Health Ministry announced restrictions would be lifted on night-time travel and the use of public transport, while shops, beaches and parks would be allowed to reopen.

The increase in infections reported on the same day was a worrying development as it came when Egypt was under the strictest measures imposed since the outbreak began in the country.

Yesterday, the government started to reopen much of the country as officials try to strike a balance between protecting Egyptians from the virus and allowing the economy to function as normally as possible.

The government said that until a vaccine was discovered, Egyptians must learn to live with Covid-19 and embrace social distancing and hygienic practices.

The outbreak has caused significant economic harm in the country, prompting Cairo to announce a stimulus package, borrow from the International Monetary Fund and dock 1 per cent of the gross pay of millions of state employees for a year.

Egypt’s approach to the pandemic is similar to the one adopted by some European nations and the US and is chiefly designed to prevent an economic meltdown. But critics say reopening Egypt could cause the number of infections to increase, placing healthcare centres across the country under tremendous pressure.

The government has pleaded with Egyptians to protect themselves against Covid-19 and abandon their casual attitude towards the outbreak.

The latest piece of official advice came from a senior member of the Egyptian Cabinet, Higher Education Minister Khaled Abdel Ghaffar. “Those who entirely rely on the health sector [to save them] in any nation are making a mistake,” he said.

“Those who’ll end up as winners are the ones who will protect themselves and their families.”

In its daily report, the Health Ministry said on Friday night that 1,289 people were diagnosed with Covid-19 over the previous 24 hours, 162 and 379 more than the record highs of the previous two days respectively.

Mr Abdel Ghaffar said the number of infections remained within official forecasts made weeks ago.

He said that while the number of cases was almost certainly higher than the official figures reported by healthcare officials, it was not because the government was hiding the true extent of the outbreak.

“The rate of the daily increase in the number of infections remains within safe boundaries,” Mr Abdel Ghaffar said.

“They are not realistic figures – no country in the world has the real figures because none can carry out mass testing.”

Egyptians have been told they must learn to live with Covid-19 while embracing social distancing and hygiene