Government officials dismissed rumours this week that more stringent lockdown measures are in the works to help contain a possible mass outbreak of coronavirus infection. Minister of Information Osama Heikal said in more than one TV interview that a stringent lockdown will come into effect only if the number of coronavirus infections reached the point of 1,000 per day. Minister of Health Hala Zayed told MBC Masr that “though the number of new infections in Egypt increased from 40 per day in the sixth week to 80 and 100 in the seventh and eighth weeks, we are still in the second phase, and far from the third phase” of infection. On Monday Egypt announced 149 new positive coronavirus cases, bringing the total to 1322, as well as 7 new fatalities, giving a total death toll of 85. According to Zayed 88 per cent of the cases were mild and only two per cent were sever cases. Earlier this week Zayed said the number of infections in Egypt was reassuring when compared with other countries in the Middle East. The minister said increases in the daily case rate in Egypt in the seventh week are in line with expected rates for each week. “Egypt still has one of the lowest rates of infection globally in terms of population size,” said Zayed. She blamed “the increased rate of infections in the seventh week” on the “lack of commitment by some returnees from abroad to self-quarantine for 14 days”. Mohamed Al-Amari, head of parliament's Health Committee, told Al-Ahram Weekly that while the increase in infection rates was slow in the first five weeks, registering between 10 and 20 cases per day, it moved faster in the sixth and seventh weeks, increasing from 40 to 60 to 85 and then, on Friday, to 120. Al-Amari expects the government to extend the curfew hours which came into effect on 25 March for another two weeks. “I do not expect a lockdown scenario like the ones in Italy or China, or even in Iran and Turkey. We remain far from such a scenario.” John Jabbour, WHO representative in Egypt, said in a TV interview on Sunday night that “Egypt's coronavirus outbreak is not insignificant but it is still under control… The higher figures in Egypt in the seventh and eighth weeks were expected as this is the scenario which the virus took in many countries,” said Jabbour. “Egyptians should follow simple instructions on social distancing, washing hands and staying at home as much as possible so that Egypt can avoid the third phase — that is the most difficult phase,” said Jabbour. By 5 April the number of reported infections in Saudi Arabia had reached 2,465 — more than 1,000 higher than Egypt — though deaths in Saudi Arabia stood at 34, compared to 78 in Egypt. Algeria topped the list of Arab countries in terms of new infections and fatalities. By 5 April, the number of coronavirus cases in Algeria had reached 1,320 and deaths surged to 152. In Israel the number of infections dramatically climbed to 8,611, with 51 deaths. In Iran and Turkey things are far worse. The total number of infections in Iran had risen to 65,000 and 3,739 deaths by 5 April. In Turkey the number of infections reached 24,000 and deaths topped 500. By 6 April Egypt ranked fifth among 22 Arab countries in terms of the number of infections, trailing Saudi Arabia (2,465), the United Arab Emirates (1,798), Qatar (1,354) and Algeria (1,320). Egypt, however, comes next to Algeria in the number of fatalities. While Algeria recorded 152 deaths, Egypt saw 78. The death toll in Saudi Arabia is now increasing by almost 10 per day, rising from 25 on Sunday to 34 on Monday. Morocco saw a surge in coronavirus numbers this week, reaching 1,113 infections and 76 deaths. Iraq saw a spike as the number of infections broke the 1,000 barrier on Monday, with the death toll rising to 61. The figures, said Jabbour, suggest Egypt, the most populous country in the Arab world (100 million), is faring well in terms of both infections and deaths. “The figures are fluctuating in a moderate way, but this should not lead people to ignore rules and precautions because this could lead to the third phase — that is the scenario in Italy and the US,” said Jabbour. Presidential Spokesman Bassam Radi said in a TV interview on Saturday that the figures show that Egypt is faring well in the face of the outbreak compared to other Arab and Middle Eastern countries. The number of Egyptian patients recovering from the virus is increasing. The Health Ministry said the total number of patients who fully recovered increased from 179 to 241 between 1 and 4 April. Heikal told Al-Arabiya Al-Hadath on Saturday that “in light of the reasonable figures regarding the infection rate in Egypt and in comparison with neighbouring countries we are not at the point of imposing a full lockdown which would place the economy in a state of complete paralysis.” On Saturday President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi decided to postpone the opening of mega national projects scheduled for 2020 to 2021. They include the New Administrative Capital, the Grand Egyptian Museum and the National Museum of Egyptian Civilisation. Minister of Transport Kamel Al-Wazir, however, said the postponement does not mean construction work will stop. “These projects will continue. It is just the opening ceremonies which have been postponed because foreign guests can't be invited at the moment,” said Al-Wazir. A number of leading businessmen have urged the government to relax curfew hours, arguing that the virus is under control. In a tweet on 4 April, business tycoon Naguib Sawiris said there is no evidence that curfew hours and social distancing can stem the tide of the virus. Sawiris also told Al-Arabiya Al-Hadath that if the government decided to extend the curfew hours for another two weeks it will be devastating for the economy. The billionaire businessman also urged Egyptians to celebrate Sham Al-Nessim on 20 April by eating huge quantities of salted fish as usual. Alaa Arafa, another businessman, told Al-Arabiya Al-Hadath on 31 March that curfew and social distancing hours should be limited. “Extended curfew hours are too much for the Egyptian economy,” said Arafa. He argued that “curfew and social isolation measures did not stop the virus in many countries” and “the Egyptian economy cannot afford to toe the line of advanced countries which stopped production.” Merchants in Obour, Cairo's biggest retail vegetable and fruit market, also voiced concern that the long curfew, particularly on Fridays and Saturdays, is harming both the economy and citizens.They urged the government to reduce curfew hours in the next two weeks to prevent over-crowding and hoarding.
*A version of this article appears in print in the 9 April, 2020 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly
