Charity workers distribute food cartons to people in Cairo affected by measures to control the coronavirus outbreak Egypt. AP Photo
Charity workers distribute food cartons to people in Cairo affected by measures to control the coronavirus outbreak Egypt. AP Photo
Charity workers distribute food cartons to people in Cairo affected by measures to control the coronavirus outbreak Egypt. AP Photo
Charity workers distribute food cartons to people in Cairo affected by measures to control the coronavirus outbreak Egypt. AP Photo

Coronavirus: Egyptian police clash with villagers blocking victim's burial


Hamza Hendawi
  • English
  • Arabic

Egyptian police on Saturday clashed with villagers north of Cairo who blocked access to the local cemetery to prevent the burial of a 64-year-old woman who died of Covid-19, according to security officials.

Police arrested 20 villagers and the woman, a doctor, was buried, the officials said.

News of the clashes, in which police used tear gas and batons, followed the appearance on social media of images purporting to show residents of another village near Cairo sneaking out of a government-imposed quarantine following two deaths people from Covid-19 and the infection of dozens of others with the novel coronavirus that causes the disease. The authenticity of the images could not be independently verified, but the government’s media watchdog, the State Information Service, did not immediately challenge the images as it routinely does when fake ones surface.

A video clip of the clashes in the Nile Delta village north of Cairo purported to show dozens of villagers gathered, with rows of black-clad riot police facing them. Later in the video, the villagers are seen fleeing as the police charge them, firing tear gas.

Egypt’s mufti, or chief Islamic theologian, issued a statement saying that coronavirus victims are considered martyrs who deserved quick and decent burial in accordance with Islamic teachings. “It’s inappropriate to oppose the burial of coronavirus victims through mob actions that are alien to our religion, values and ethics,” said the mufti, Shawki Allam.

Saturday’s incident is at least the second where people have tried to stop burials of coronavirus victims in local cemeteries because of the false belief the virus would spread to them. But it was the first in which police used force.

Misinformation about the coronavirus persists despite a media campaign by authorities to explain how it is transmitted and how to avoid infection.

Egypt’s coronavirus outbreak has killed 135 people and infected 1,794 since the first case was confirmed in February, according to the latest figures released on Friday night. These are relatively low numbers given Egypt’s 100 million population and that they live on less than 10 per cent of the country’s land. Officials have said the daily increase in cases - 95 on Friday - was roughly within forecasts made a month ago. They however warned that ignoring measures introduced by authorities to limit the spread of the virus could have serious repercussions.

President Abdel Fattah El Sisi complained earlier this week that passengers in the minibuses that crisscross Cairo and other cities were not wearing face masks.

On Wednesday, a video clip showed the Egyptian leader during a surprise visit to a construction site in Cairo, shouting at supervisors for allowing crews to work without masks.

“Are my instructions ignored? There will be a big problem if I come back tomorrow and these people are still not wearing [masks],” the president says in the clip, whose authenticity was not contested by the presidential media office.

Mr El Sisi has ordered work to resume on the massive construction and infrastructure projects he has launched since taking office in 2014, arguing that he was not in favour of a complete lockdown to combat the coronavirus because it would hurt the millions who survive on daily wages.

Instead, the government has imposed a nighttime curfew, closed schools, universities and places of worship, banned large gatherings and halted international travel.

'How To Build A Boat'
Jonathan Gornall, Simon & Schuster

The biog

Family: Parents and four sisters

Education: Bachelor’s degree in business management and marketing at American University of Sharjah

A self-confessed foodie, she enjoys trying out new cuisines, her current favourite is the poke superfood bowls

Likes reading: autobiographies and fiction

Favourite holiday destination: Italy

Posts information about challenges, events, runs in other emirates on the group's Instagram account @Anagowrunning

Has created a database of Emirati and GCC sportspeople on Instagram @abeermk, highlight: Athletes

Apart from training, also talks to women about nutrition, healthy lifestyle, diabetes, cholesterol, blood pressure

How to help

Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
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Key facilities
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  • Premier League-standard football pitch
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LA LIGA FIXTURES

Friday Celta Vigo v Villarreal (midnight kick-off UAE)

Saturday Sevilla v Real Sociedad (4pm), Atletico Madrid v Athletic Bilbao (7.15pm), Granada v Barcelona (9.30pm), Osasuna v Real Madrid (midnight)

Sunday Levante v Eibar (4pm), Cadiz v Alaves (7.15pm), Elche v Getafe (9.30pm), Real Valladolid v Valencia (midnight)

Monday Huesca v Real Betis (midnight)

Company Profile
Company name: OneOrder

Started: October 2021

Founders: Tamer Amer and Karim Maurice

Based: Cairo, Egypt

Industry: technology, logistics

Investors: A15 and self-funded 

The specs

Engine: 5.0-litre supercharged V8

Transmission: Eight-speed auto

Power: 575bhp

Torque: 700Nm

Price: Dh554,000

On sale: now

If you go

The flights Etihad (www.etihad.com) and Spice Jet (www.spicejet.com) fly direct from Abu Dhabi and Dubai to Pune respectively from Dh1,000 return including taxes. Pune airport is 90 minutes away by road. 

The hotels A stay at Atmantan Wellness Resort (www.atmantan.com) costs from Rs24,000 (Dh1,235) per night, including taxes, consultations, meals and a treatment package.
 

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
While you're here
Banned items
Dubai Police has also issued a list of banned items at the ground on Sunday. These include:
  • Drones
  • Animals
  • Fireworks/ flares
  • Radios or power banks
  • Laser pointers
  • Glass
  • Selfie sticks/ umbrellas
  • Sharp objects
  • Political flags or banners
  • Bikes, skateboards or scooters
Scoreline

Bournemouth 2

Wilson 70', Ibe 74'

Arsenal 1

Bellerin 52'

The biog

Name: Younis Al Balooshi

Nationality: Emirati

Education: Doctorate degree in forensic medicine at the University of Bonn

Hobbies: Drawing and reading books about graphic design

What to watch out for:

Algae, waste coffee grounds and orange peels will be used in the pavilion's walls and gangways

The hulls of three ships will be used for the roof

The hulls will painted to make the largest Italian tricolour in the country’s history

Several pillars more than 20 metres high will support the structure

Roughly 15 tonnes of steel will be used

RESULTS

Cagliari 5-2 Fiorentina
Udinese 0-0 SPAL
Sampdoria 0-0 Atalanta
Lazio 4-2 Lecce
Parma 2-0 Roma
Juventus 1-0 AC Milan

Checks continue

A High Court judge issued an interim order on Friday suspending a decision by Agriculture Minister Edwin Poots to direct a stop to Brexit agri-food checks at Northern Ireland ports.

Mr Justice Colton said he was making the temporary direction until a judicial review of the minister's unilateral action this week to order a halt to port checks that are required under the Northern Ireland Protocol.

Civil servants have yet to implement the instruction, pending legal clarity on their obligations, and checks are continuing.

THE POPE'S ITINERARY

Sunday, February 3, 2019 - Rome to Abu Dhabi
1pm: departure by plane from Rome / Fiumicino to Abu Dhabi
10pm: arrival at Abu Dhabi Presidential Airport


Monday, February 4
12pm: welcome ceremony at the main entrance of the Presidential Palace
12.20pm: visit Abu Dhabi Crown Prince at Presidential Palace
5pm: private meeting with Muslim Council of Elders at Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
6.10pm: Inter-religious in the Founder's Memorial


Tuesday, February 5 - Abu Dhabi to Rome
9.15am: private visit to undisclosed cathedral
10.30am: public mass at Zayed Sports City – with a homily by Pope Francis
12.40pm: farewell at Abu Dhabi Presidential Airport
1pm: departure by plane to Rome
5pm: arrival at the Rome / Ciampino International Airport

THE SPECS

      

 

Engine: 1.5-litre

 

Transmission: 6-speed automatic

 

Power: 110 horsepower 

 

Torque: 147Nm 

 

Price: From Dh59,700 

 

On sale: now