Foreign workers in Egypt’s Port Said got mandatory vacation amid coronavirus fears

Foreign employees operating in Port Said city will be obliged to take mandatory vacation over coronavirus concerns, an official said on Wednesday.
Port Said Governor Adel Al Ghadban said the governorate decided to suspend work for foreigners operating in the factories of the General Authority for Investment and Free Zones (GAFI) in the city to control the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.

The governor explained to state news agency MENA that the suspension is part of the precautionary measures taken by the governorate to combat the new flu-like virus.

The decision was taken after detecting a suspected coronavirus case of an Indian national working in Port Said, Al Ghadban told MENA.

The owners of these factories are committed to pay the salaries of the expat workers during that suspension since such workers enter the governorate through Damietta and Daqhalia; the most-affected governorates by the virus, he added.

Egypt confirmed on Wednesday 14 new coronavirus cases, bringing the total number of cases up to 210.

The country has so far reported 6 coronavirus related deaths.