Egypt holds senatorial elections despite fears of a renewed wave of coronavirus as the country begins to recover from the pandemic. The new legislative body is being elected according to a 2019 referendum that will also allow Egyptian President Abdul-Fattah al-Sissi to stay in power until 2030. VOA’s Heather Murdock writes from Istanbul with photos by Hamada Elrasam in Cairo.
Egypt Votes for New Senate Amid Pandemic Fears

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Egyptians are voting for a 300-seat senate this week, after last year’s referendum consolidated the power of President Abul-Fattah al-Sissi and established the new legislative body, in Cairo, Aug. 11, 2020.

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Before the vote, authorities assured voters that all safety precautions would be in place to prevent a resurgence of the coronavirus in Cairo, Aug. 11, 2020.

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The number of COVID-19 cases is still rising in Egypt, but at a considerably slower pace than in recent weeks, in Cairo, Aug. 11, 2020.

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Some Egyptians worry that masks and sanitizers at the polls won’t be enough to prevent a resurgence of the virus in Cairo, Aug. 11, 2020.