The number of COVID-19 infections and related deaths in Egypt more than tripled in the past month while extreme poverty grips the nation. As of July 2, Egypt recorded nearly 70,000 cases and 3,034 deaths. But Egyptian leaders say because of the dire economic situation, they are slowly lifting restrictions on entertainment, education, worship and eating out. VOA’s Heather Murdock describes the pictures taken by Hamada Elrasam.
Egypt Slowly Reopens as Coronavirus Death Toll Climbs
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Schools in Egypt re-opens for high school seniors to take their final exams. In Cairo, parents often wait outside schools while their children sit important tests, June 21, 2020. (Hamada Elrasam/VOA)
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Mosques have been closed for months and are still closed for Friday prayers. But other, usually less-attended prayer sessions are open and more popular than before in this deeply religious country, June 22, 2020. (Hamada Elrasam/VOA)
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Between prayer sessions, mosque workers try to sanitize all mats and the prayer area to try to slow the spread of coronavirus, June 28, 2020. (Hamada Elrasam/VOA)
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Washing rooms for worshipers to clean-up in before prayers remain shuttered, June 28, 2020. (Hamada Elrasam/VOA)
