Egypt to produce government-approved, low-priced cloth masks to curb coronavirus

CAIRO – 18 May 2020: Egypt’s Trade and Industry Minister Neveen Gamea has shown Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouli a model for a cloth face mask that the government plans to offer at a low cost, in a bid to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), a source told Egypt Today on Sunday.

This comes as Madbouli said in a press conference that wearing masks in public places and transportation would be mandatory starting from May 30, and affirmed that violators would face tough measures.

The planned mask will be available at a cost of LE 5 ($0.32), the source said, adding that the minister said they can be washed and sterilized every day and that each can be used for a month.

Madbouli has announced a bundle of measures as part of the state’s plan to restore normal life amid the coronavirus crisis, including the situation during next week, which includes the obligation to wear masks in public places.

Citizens will not be allowed to take public or private transportation means unless they wear masks, he said.

Madbouli suggested wearing cloth masks to face coronavirus, in a bid to tackle shortage in the medial single-use masks, saying factories are encouraged to help in the production of cloth masks.



The Health Ministry on Sunday said 510 people have tested positive for coronavirus in Egypt recently, bringing the total number of cases to 12,229.

The ministry also reported 18 deaths due to the novel virus, bringing the total number to 630.

Also, the test results of 3,742 people turned from positive to negative, the ministry said, including 3,172 people who totally recovered. It added that 222 patients left hospitals after recovery.