In pics: Egypt’s Min. of Tourism sterilizes several Islamic, Coptic, Jewish Egyptian archaeological sites

CAIRO – 12 April 2020: Egypt’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities has completed the sterilization of a number of Islamic, Coptic and Jewish archaeological sites in various parts of Egypt.




This comes as part of the sterilization works of museums and archaeological sites carried out by the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities within the precautionary and preventive measures taken by the government to combat the coronavirus.




Osama Talaat, head of the Islamic, Coptic and Judaic Antiquities Sector, announced that a number of Coptic antiquities have been sterilized and disinfected, including the area of Virgin Mary’s Tree in Matareyya, the Monastery of Virgin Mary in El-Qusiya, the Monastery of the Virgin Mary at Jabal al-Tair in Samalout, the Abu Mena area in Alexandria, and the Monastery of St. Semaan in Aswan.



This is in addition to the sterilization of all the Islamic monuments found in Al-Moez Street, Salah El-Din Al-Ayouby Citadel, as well as Sultan Hassan, Al-Azhar and Al-Ghouri areas and the houses of Al-Suhaymi and Al-Sennari.

Also, the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities sterilized Tekeya and the Mosque of Abu Dahab in Al-Azhar, the archaeological collection and the palace of Prince Youssef Kamal in Nagaa Hammadi, the Ottoman Castle in Red Sea Governorate, and the Citadel of Qaitbay and Kom el-Nadora in Alexandria.

Among the Jewish monuments that were sterilized were Moses ben Maimon and Eliyahu Hanavi synagogue


On March 25, the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities sterilized the Pyramids’ region, to prevent the spread of the emerging coronavirus (covid-19).

Director General of the Pyramids’ region Ashraf Mohieddin said that sterilization was done in accordance with the international standards and by using materials approved by the Ministry of Health and Population, pointing out that the visitors' reception hall, X-Ray devices, tickets office, toilets, entrance to the entire archaeological area and the roads leading to it were all sterilized.

This is in addition to sterilizing the wooden walkway in front of the Great Pyramid, visitors’ seating areas and other places where humans stayed.

Mohieddin stressed that all workers received the tools of protection, including gloves, masks and disinfectants, and that the rest of the region is being sterilized.


Furthermore, the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities has cleared and sterilized its administrative buildings in Abbasiya, Giza and Zamalek.


The ministry is implementing the recommendations of the Ministry of Health and Population to clean surfaces and places periodically during the day to ensure the safety of visitors and workers, in addition to providing the employees who deal with the public with gloves, masks, and disinfectants.