Egyptians spend Sham El Naseem holiday at home amid Covid-19 pandemic

First time in living memory Egyptians have intentionally passed on customary picnics in parks or banks of Nile

Egyptian youths prepare decorations for the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, also known to Egyptians as "Zeinat Ramadan". Reuters

Closed stalls in Attaba market place during the national holiday of Sham El Nessim marking the beginning of spring season in Cairo. EPA

Streets and public places across the country remained deserted due to additional coronavirus-related restrictions imposed by the authorities on the national holiday of Sham El Nessim. EPA

Egyptian soldiers wearing face mask stand on the Qasr Nile bridge to ensure people abiding by restrictions during the national holiday of Sham El Nessim.EPA

A general view of the deserted Moustaf Kamel Square during the national holiday of Sham El Nessim, a day that usually sees thousands of people going out picnicking in public gardens. EPA

An Egyptian soldier wearing face mask stands on the Qasr Nile bridge during the national holiday of Sham El Nessim. EPA

Children watch the installation of Ramadan ornaments at the streets of Giza, Egypt. EPA

A man assists in the installation of Ramadan ornaments at the streets of Giza. EPA

People put up decorations and ornaments in the local tradition in Egypt as part of the celebration of the Holy month of Ramadan, which is expected to start in Egypt on 24 April 2020. EPA

Children react to the installation of Ramadan ornaments at the streets of Giza, Egypt, 20 April 2020. EPA

A woman dances during the installation of Ramadan ornaments at the streets of Giza. EPA

A woman blows a balloon during the installation of Ramadan ornaments at the streets of Giza.EPA

Children assist in the installation of Ramadan ornaments at the streets of Giza. EPA

People put up decorations and ornaments in the local tradition in Egypt as part of the celebration of the Holy month of Ramadan, which is expected to start in Egypt on 24 April 2020. EPA

Children assist in the installation of Ramadan ornaments at the streets of Giza. EPA

An Egyptian seller cleans a traditional Ramadan lantern called "fanous" at his shop ahead of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. Reuters

Egyptian youths prepare decorations for the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. Reuters

Egyptian youth prepare decorations for the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. Reuters

Ramadan decorations hang on a street that is on complete lockdown after a family was tested positive due to coronavirus in Bahtim, Shubra El Kheima neighbourhood of Qalyoubiya governorate. AP

Egyptians on Monday sacrificed their outdoor celebrations to mark the country’s oldest holiday, Sham El Naseem – or "smelling the breeze" – to stay home and prevent the coronavirus from spreading further.

It was the first time in living memory that Egyptians, who now number 100 million, have intentionally passed on their customary picnics in parks or by the banks of the Nile.

Instead, they made do with family gatherings over a traditional lunch of fish or meat, and boiled eggs coloured by children.

Sham El Naseem is meant to mark the arrival of spring. With roots in Pharaonic times, it is a non-religious feast marked by the Muslim majority and Christian minority of about 10 million people.

To try to contain the spread of the coronavirus, authorities closed public parks and banned travel between the country’s 27 provinces in tour buses for the day.

All modes of public transport were also suspended.

Authorities had already closed beaches, historical sites and museums as part of anti-coronavirus measures.

They also include a night-time curfew, a ban on gatherings and international air travel, and closure of mosques, churches, schools and universities.

A large police force was posted across Cairo on Monday to ensure the city’s about 20 million residents refrained from gathering in public spaces.

Nile-side streets were barricaded to deny access to pavements running parallel to the river.

The city looked deserted for most of the day but traffic picked up in the evening when many streets appeared dimly lit.

Only supermarkets, pharmacies and bakeries remained open on Monday.

But Sham El Naseem had the highest one-day number of coronavirus infections since the first case was diagnosed in mid-February.

The Health Ministry said 189 cases of Covid-19 were discovered, one more than the previous high recorded on Saturday.

The latest figure takes the number of confirmed Covid-19 cases in Egypt to 3,333.

The ministry said 11 people died of the virus over the past 24 hours, taking the death toll to 250.

Authorities have assured Egyptians that the number of infections and fatalities remained within forecasts made in the early stages of the pandemic.

But they have warned that the outbreak could spiral out of control if people did not adhere to social-distancing.

The government has launched a vigorous media campaign to urge people to stay home and observe higher hygienic standards.

It hoped to avoid infection while trying to strike a balance between protecting people against the virus and preventing an economic meltdown.