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COVID-19-EGYPT
Egypt distributes free face masks amid COVID-19 outbreak
CAIRO, April 12, 2020 (BSS/XINHUA) – The Egyptian armed forces started distributing
free face masks to citizens in public places to curb the spread of COVID-19, an Egyptian
official said in a statement Sunday.
The move came in response to the instructions of President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi “to
take all necessary precautionary measures to limit the spread of the novel coronavirus,”
said Egyptian military spokesman Tamer al-Refai.
The Egyptian armed forces have recently opened five new production lines for medical
face masks based on the standards of the World Health Organization, with a daily
production of 100,000, he added.
Since the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak in Egypt, the army has been assisting
other state departments and institutions in disinfecting public places.
Until Saturday night, Egypt has confirmed 1,939 COVID-19 cases after the first was
discovered in mid-February, including 146 deaths and 426 recoveries.
Egypt has so far suspended schools and universities, halted flights, cancelled sports
activities, closed entertainment places and malls, stopped mass prayers and shut down
museums and archeological sites to curb the spread of the virus.
The North African country is implementing a nationwide 10-hour nighttime curfew for
two weeks until April 23.
BSS/XINHUA/ARS/2205 HRS