Egypt makes face masks compulsory in courts, real estate registration offices due to coronavirus

Egypt made wearing face masks mandatory starting on Sunday for employees and citizens in courts and real estate registration offices, Minister of Justice Omar Marwan said on Saturday.

Both employees and citizens will have to maintain social distancing measures to curb the spread of the coronavirus, Marwan added in a statement.

On Thursday, Egyptian Prime Minister announced the country would resume government services.

Egypt will reopen real estate registration offices nationwide, to offer a limited number of services, including official lease contracts, ratification of trade records, depositing and unsealing enclosed wills, authorisation for pensions, and disclosures.

Some courts is set to re-open on Sunday, albeit only for inheritance claims.

Traffic departments will operate starting Sunday for licencing new vehicles only.

The interior ministry said on Friday that wearing face masks is a “requirement” for people going to traffic departments.

On Thursday, Egyptian Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly said curfew hours would be shortened to start from 9:00 pm instead of the previous 8:00 pm from Friday, the first day of the holy month of Ramadan.

Madbouly also said the country would ease restrictions to take steps to help return life to normal after the Eid Al-Fitr religious holiday, which marks the end of Ramadan.

Last week, Egyptian parliament initially approved a new law giving the health minister or health authorities in general the power to make it obligatory for citizens to wear face masks while outside their homes.

Violators will be fined between 300 and 5,000 Egyptian pounds ($19.00 and $316.65) under the new law.