Sisi praises Egypt’s efforts to combat coronavirus

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has hailed the country’s ongoing efforts to combat the spread of the coronavirus, Ahram Online reported on Tuesday.

“In light of my following-up around the clock on all efforts and measures taken to confront the spread of coronavirus, I believe that what has been achieved so far is good and reassuring,” Sisi wrote on Twitter on Tuesday.

The president urged both the authorities and ordinary Egyptians to continue to “firmly” implement measures being taken to stem the spread of the deadly virus.

The total number of cases in Egypt stand at 656, as of Monday, with 41 fatalities.

Egypt has halted international flights, banned mass gatherings and shuttered schools, mosques and churches, in an effort to slow the spread of the virus, which has infected over 800,000 and claimed the lives of more than 39,500 globally.

A nationwide curfew is also in effect from 7pm to 6am, scheduled to last until 7 April.

Sisi previously ordered the allocation of 100 billion Egyptian pounds ($6.38 billion) to finance a “comprehensive plan” for tackling the disease.

The government has also spent 20 billion pounds ($1.27 billion) to stimulate the stock exchange and has taken steps to support informal labourers affected by the crisis.