News / Egypt

Egypt extends state of emergency on virus, security fears

Tuesday, 28 April 2020 6:14 PM [ Last Update: Tuesday, 28 April 2020 6:15 PM ]

Egyptian special forces (file photo)

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on Tuesday ordered the renewal for three months of a long-running state of emergency, citing health as well as security concerns.

Egypt has been under a state of emergency since April 2017 when twin church bombings claimed by an affiliate of the Daesh Takfiri terrorist group killed dozens of people.

The new extension comes as the government battles to contain the spread of the coronavirus pandemic in the Arab world's most populous country.

"Given the serious health and security situation ... the state of emergency has been declared across the country for three months starting Tuesday, April 28," said a presidential decree published in the official gazette overnight.

The health ministry has so far recorded 4,782 COVID-19 cases in the population of 100 million.

Of those, 337 have died while 1,236 have recovered.

Egypt seeks aid from IMF amid virus-induced economic downturn

Egypt’s economy has been through ups and downs since 2011.

The state of emergency gives police broad powers of arrest and detention and curtails constitutional rights such as freedom of speech and assembly.

Last week, state media reported that parliament had approved amendments to the emergency law expanding the president's powers to curb the virus'a spread.

The amendments grant the president rights to close schools, suspend public sector work, restrict gatherings, quarantine inbound travelers and order private medical facilities to assist with general healthcare.