The Sultan Hassan Al Rifai mosque in Cairo. Egyptian authorities aid they would reopen some mosques for Friday prayers from August 28, 2020. AFP
The Sultan Hassan Al Rifai mosque in Cairo. Egyptian authorities aid they would reopen some mosques for Friday prayers from August 28, 2020. AFP
The Sultan Hassan Al Rifai mosque in Cairo. Egyptian authorities aid they would reopen some mosques for Friday prayers from August 28, 2020. AFP
The Sultan Hassan Al Rifai mosque in Cairo. Egyptian authorities aid they would reopen some mosques for Friday prayers from August 28, 2020. AFP

Coronavirus: Egypt to reopen some mosques for Friday prayers

New arrivals to country must present negative PCR test

Hamza Hendawi
Hamza Hendawi
Cairo

August 21, 2020

  • English
  • Arabic

Egypt will reopen mosques for Friday prayers from August 28 after five months.

The decision was announced late on Wednesday by Awqaf Minister Mukhtar Gomaa.

Friday prayers will only be allowed in major mosques, which will be announced later, Mr Gomaa said.

Worshippers will have to wear masks, maintain social distancing and bring their own prayer mats, he said.

The sermon will be restricted to 10 minutes and mosques will close immediately after prayers.

Ablution facilities attached to mosques will remain closed. Mosques will still be unavailable for congregational prayers for the dead.

Mosques that breach regulations will lose their permit to hold Friday prayers.

Muslims who fear contracting Covid-19 can continue to pray at home for the time being, Mr Gomaa said.

Worshippers have been allowed to visit mosques for the five daily prayers since late June and Christian churches reopened for congregational prayers on August 3, but with health precautions.

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Coronavirus around the world

Coronavirus survivor Azareth Amaya Gamez, right, embraces her mother Glenda Yaneth Amaya Gamez inside their home in Miami Gardens, Florida, USA. AFP
Coronavirus survivor Azareth Amaya Gamez, right, embraces her mother Glenda Yaneth Amaya Gamez inside their home in Miami Gardens, Florida, USA. AFP
A healthcare worker draws blood from a journalist to test for coronavirus at a trade union office for media workers, in La Paz, Bolivia. AP Photo
A healthcare worker draws blood from a journalist to test for coronavirus at a trade union office for media workers, in La Paz, Bolivia. AP Photo
A healthcare worker prepares to conduct a Covid-19 test on a patient at a testing facility in Melbourne, Australia. Reuters
A healthcare worker prepares to conduct a Covid-19 test on a patient at a testing facility in Melbourne, Australia. Reuters
Medical workers prepare to carry out Covid-19 tests at a makeshift clinic run by Konyang University Hospital in Daejeon, South Korea. EPA
Medical workers prepare to carry out Covid-19 tests at a makeshift clinic run by Konyang University Hospital in Daejeon, South Korea. EPA
Orion EMS employees wheel a patient who tested positive for Covid-19 into an ambulance in Houston, Texas, USA. Reuters
Orion EMS employees wheel a patient who tested positive for Covid-19 into an ambulance in Houston, Texas, USA. Reuters
A student gets his temperature checked at a school in Sanaa, Yemen. EPA
A student gets his temperature checked at a school in Sanaa, Yemen. EPA
An inmate models the protective gear inmates manufacture as fellow inmate Luis Huaman makes face shields at a workshop in the Lurigancho prison, on the outskirts of Lima, Peru. AP Photo
An inmate models the protective gear inmates manufacture as fellow inmate Luis Huaman makes face shields at a workshop in the Lurigancho prison, on the outskirts of Lima, Peru. AP Photo
A man rides a bicycle past a replica of a coffin reading "Covid-19 victim's coffin" as an appeal to residents to be more aware of the coronavirus in Jakarta, Indonesia. EPA
A man rides a bicycle past a replica of a coffin reading "Covid-19 victim's coffin" as an appeal to residents to be more aware of the coronavirus in Jakarta, Indonesia. EPA
A municipality worker sprays disinfectant in the main market area after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19, in Kathmandu, Nepal. AFP
A municipality worker sprays disinfectant in the main market area after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19, in Kathmandu, Nepal. AFP
A man commutes on a bicycle during monsoon rainfalls in New Delhi, India. AFP
A man commutes on a bicycle during monsoon rainfalls in New Delhi, India. AFP
Passengers seated in between plastic barriers, wear face masks and face shields to help curb Covid-19 infections, in Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines. Reuters
Passengers seated in between plastic barriers, wear face masks and face shields to help curb Covid-19 infections, in Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines. Reuters
People play soccer on a dusty field in Soweto, South Africa. South African president Cyril Ramaphosa announced that the entire country will move to lockdown alert level 2 from Tuesday. AP Photo
People play soccer on a dusty field in Soweto, South Africa. South African president Cyril Ramaphosa announced that the entire country will move to lockdown alert level 2 from Tuesday. AP Photo
Members of the media wait for Democratic Vice Presidential nominee US Senator Kamala Harris to speak on the third night of the Democratic National Convention from the Chase Center in Wilmington, Delaware, USA. AFP
Members of the media wait for Democratic Vice Presidential nominee US Senator Kamala Harris to speak on the third night of the Democratic National Convention from the Chase Center in Wilmington, Delaware, USA. AFP
Young people maintain social distancing as they take the entrance exam for Mexico's National Autonomous University in the stands of University Olympic Stadium in Mexico City, Mexico. Reuters
Young people maintain social distancing as they take the entrance exam for Mexico's National Autonomous University in the stands of University Olympic Stadium in Mexico City, Mexico. Reuters
A visitor attends an art exhibition on the coronavirus pandemic in the southeastern city of Daegu, South Korea. EPA
A visitor attends an art exhibition on the coronavirus pandemic in the southeastern city of Daegu, South Korea. EPA
A circus artist performs in a street in Medellin, Colombia, as part of a campaign promoted by the city administration amid the new coronavirus pandemic. AFP
A circus artist performs in a street in Medellin, Colombia, as part of a campaign promoted by the city administration amid the new coronavirus pandemic. AFP

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The daily number of confirmed Covid-19 cases in Egypt remains low after a dramatic decline that began in late July.

June was the deadliest month in Egypt's outbreak of the pandemic that began in February.

But authorities fearing a “second wave” of Covid-19 infections are appealing to Egyptians to adhere to health precautions before schools and universities reopen next month and in October.

The government has warned that strict preventive measures would be introduced if the number of infections surges again.

President Abdel Fattah El Sisi said this week that he wanted to see “zero” infections and warned that Egyptians must remain diligent to prevent the number of cases from rising again.

Public parks and beaches remain closed, but private beaches along the Mediterranean coastline are busy during weekdays and packed on weekends, with no heed or care for preventive measures.

This is part of the casual attitude most Egyptians have taken with the pandemic.

Authorities, meanwhile, said this week that from September 1, travellers to Egypt will have to show evidence of a negative PCR test to gain entry.

Egypt reopened its airports and allowed air traffic to resume on July 1 after a three-month closure.

Dirham Stretcher tips for having a baby in the UAE

Selma Abdelhamid, the group's moderator, offers her guide to guide the cost of having a young family:

• Buy second hand stuff

 They grow so fast. Don't get a second hand car seat though, unless you 100 per cent know it's not expired and hasn't been in an accident.

• Get a health card and vaccinate your child for free at government health centres

 Ms Ma says she discovered this after spending thousands on vaccinations at private clinics.

• Join mum and baby coffee mornings provided by clinics, babysitting companies or nurseries.

Before joining baby classes ask for a free trial session. This way you will know if it's for you or not. You'll be surprised how great some classes are and how bad others are.

• Once baby is ready for solids, cook at home

Take the food with you in reusable pouches or jars. You'll save a fortune and you'll know exactly what you're feeding your child.

Who has lived at The Bishops Avenue?
  • George Sainsbury of the supermarket dynasty, sugar magnate William Park Lyle and actress Dame Gracie Fields were residents in the 1930s when the street was only known as ‘Millionaires’ Row’.
  • Then came the international super rich, including the last king of Greece, Constantine II, the Sultan of Brunei and Indian steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal who was at one point ranked the third richest person in the world.
  • Turkish tycoon Halis Torprak sold his mansion for £50m in 2008 after spending just two days there. The House of Saud sold 10 properties on the road in 2013 for almost £80m.
  • Other residents have included Iraqi businessman Nemir Kirdar, singer Ariana Grande, holiday camp impresario Sir Billy Butlin, businessman Asil Nadir, Paul McCartney’s former wife Heather Mills. 
Hunting park to luxury living
  • Land was originally the Bishop of London's hunting park, hence the name
  • The road was laid out in the mid 19th Century, meandering through woodland and farmland
  • Its earliest houses at the turn of the 20th Century were substantial detached properties with extensive grounds

 

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Founders: Michele Ferrario, Nino Ulsamer and Freddy Lim
Started: established in 2016 and launched in July 2017
Based: Singapore, with offices in the UAE, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Thailand
Sector: FinTech, wealth management
Initial investment: $500,000 in seed round 1 in 2016; $2.2m in seed round 2 in 2017; $5m in series A round in 2018; $12m in series B round in 2019; $16m in series C round in 2020 and $25m in series D round in 2021
Current staff: more than 160 employees
Stage: series D 
Investors: EightRoads Ventures, Square Peg Capital, Sequoia Capital India

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