Egypt extends state of emergency by three months

President Sisi says the armed forces and police would take steps to confront dangers of terrorism

Egyptian policeman Mohamed Nasser, wearing a face mask, fires a Ramadan cannon, a tradition used to announce the breaking of the fast, in Cairo, Egypt, on April 27, 2010. EPA

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi announced the extension of the state of emergency throughout the country for three months, starting from Tuesday morning.

The decision will allow the armed forces and police to take the necessary steps to confront the dangers of terror financing, maintain security throughout the country, protect public and private property and ensure the safety of people.

The country has suffered several deadly terror attacks emanating from insurgents in the Sinai Peninsula in recent years, many claimed by the ISIS affiliate that has found a safe haven in the remote area of the country.

The country will also keep a night-time curfew for the month of Ramadan to combat the coronavirus spread but allow one extra hour of movement, Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly said last week.

The curfew will start at 9pm instead of the previous 8pm and run until 6 am, he said.

As part of the easing of measures in place to stem the spread of the virus, malls and shops will be allowed to open daily until 5pm during the holy month.

Restaurants that have been closed since late March will also be permitted to open, but only for delivery and take-away.

Suspended government services have been gradually reopened starting this week.

Underscoring that Egypt's economy has been "considerably impacted" by the Covid-19 crisis, the premier said the government will consider further easing restrictions toward a gradual return to normalcy after Ramadan.

"We are trying to strike a balance between protecting the health of citizens and maintaining economic activity," he said.

Egypt has since late March imposed strict measures to slow contagion among the country's 100 million people.

Flights have been grounded and schools and universities shuttered along with religious and tourist sites.