Passengers using Egyptian trains and Cairo's metro will have to wear masks starting on Saturday, according to official sources. According to state-run MENA agency, sources at the National Railways Authority said commuters will not be allowed to use trains without a mask. A source at the Egyptian Company for Metro Management & Operation told Masrawy that citizens will not be allowed in metro stations without face masks. Passengers using the metro without a mask will be fined, the source added. Egypt said last week it will make wearing face masks in public places mandatory starting 30 May, with violators facing hefty fines. According to a ministerial 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. The decree also states that commuters taking public or private transportation must also wear face masks. Those who do not wear a mask will be subject to fines up to EGP 4,000. A number of public and private establishments, including banks, have made wearing masks mandatory for people seeking their services. The new measures come as Egypt looks to pull back on some of the heavy safety restrictions introduced in recent months. The government has urged people to maintain social distancing and other preventive measures when these changes are made. The government announced earlier this month its three-stage plan to allow life to gradually return to normal as the country learns to coexist with the coronavirus. The plan includes a re-opening of government offices and courts, as well as venues like hotels.
