S\u00e3o Paulo \u2013 Egypt\u2019s government canceled New Year\u2019s celebrations and it will shut down facilities organizing festivities. Weddings, funerals and other gatherings are also prohibited, in a bid to keep novel coronavirus infections at bay. Hotels will be allowed to host weddings in open spaces only, and fines will be levied for non-compliance.<\/p>\n
There have been 133,900 reported cases and 7,466 deaths from Covid-19 in Egypt, as per the latest numbers from the World Health Organization (WHO). Egypt\u2019s prime minister Mostafa Madbouly said during a meeting of the Supreme Committee for the Management of the Coronavirus Crisis that \u201cthe past few days had witnessed a remarkable increase in the number of new cases,\u201d the website of newspaper Arab News<\/em><\/a> reported.<\/p>\n Tourism slowed in Egypt in the wake of new waves of Covid-19. Hotel occupancy rates slid year-on-year in major tourist spots such as Cairo, Giza, Luxor, Aswan, Sharm El-Sheik and Hurghada, officials have said.<\/p>\n Madbouly said penalties will be imposed starting January 3. Those failing to wear facemasks will be fined EGP 50 (USD 3.18), and failure to pay will result in prosecution.<\/p>\n The administration also ordered restaurants and caf\u00e9s to take in no more than 50% of capacity. Failure to comply will result in a EGP 4,000 fine (USD 254.1) and weeklong closure. Repeat violation will result in two-week closure.<\/p>\n Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum<\/strong><\/p>\n