MP Saeed Hasasin called on Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly to impose obligatory mask-wearing in public places to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus in Egypt. Hasasin, who is a member of the parliament's health committee, said in a statement on Monday, that all workers in the public and private sectors have to wear face masks while in duty and no citizen should be allowed in any government or private establishment without a face mask as well. The measure should be applied in all companies, hospitals, clinics, banks, universities, post offices, telecommunication companies, notary offices, traffic units, commercial malls, public transportation, and other public places. Meanwhile, the health committee in parliament approved the draft amendments to Law 137/1908 regulating the precautionary measures during infectious diseases. The amendments were drafted by the committee's head, Mohamed Al-Amary, and 60 other MPs. The amendments give the Ministry of Health new powers to enhance its ability to fight the virus, including obligatory mask-wearing in public places and other preventive measures. Al-Amari said, "The amended law helps the Health Ministry take quick and consistent measures in the event of any epidemiological situation in Egypt." The executive regulations of the law would require availability of face masks in markets because it would be illogical to ask citizen to wear masks if they were not available at reasonable prices, he added. He noted that some parliament members called for distributing face masks via ration cards.
