Egypt to resume cruises in Red Sea after suspension due to coronavirus outbreak

Egypt will resume cruises in all cities in the Red Sea, after a two-week suspension to curb the spread of the coronavirus, Red Sea Governor Amr Hanafy said on Saturday.

The decision includes taxi and excursion boats, Hanafy added.

The governorate will take all the needed preventive and precautionary measures through continuous disinfection and sterilisation of the cruises, he said.

If any boats detected hosting crowds or exchanging passengers out on the water, they would have its licence revoked, the governor said.

However, Hanafy said: “Egypt will continue its suspension of other activities, including diving, snorkelling, kiting, windsurfing, and submarines, until further notice,”

On 12 April, Egypt suspended all cruises, except for fishing boats.

The suspension has greatly limited the spread of the coronavirus in the governorate, Hanafy said.