Egypt said it will make wearing facemasks in public places mandatory starting 30 May, with violators facing hefty fines, a decree by Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly read on Tuesday. According to the decree, which covers restrictions to be imposed after Eid Al-Fitr holiday, facemasks will be mandatory for workers or visitors at markets, shops, banks, as well as governmental or private institutions until further notice. The decree also states that commuters taking public or private transportation must also wear face masks. Those who do not not wear a mask will be subject to a fine of EGP 4,000. A number of public and private establishments, including banks, have made wearing facemasks mandatory for people seeking their services. The decree mainly covers measures to be applied after Eid Al-Fitr, or on 30 May, when the curfew will be revised again to last from 8 pm to 6 am for two weeks. Some businesses like cafes, sports clubs and gyms will remain closed, and violators will be subject to a fine of EGP 4,000 and/or imprisonment. The new measures come as Egypt looks to pull back on some of the heavy restrictions introduced in recent months. The government has urged people to maintain social distancing and other preventive measures when these changes are made. Egypt announced last week a three-stage plan that will see life gradually return to normal as the country learns to coexist with the coronavirus. The first stage, effective now, entails “strict measures” to prevent a surge in infections, with two other stages, applied when Egypt sees a decline in new cases, seeing medium and relaxed measures.
