A night protest by residents of the al-Hayatem village in Egypt’s Nile Delta sparked outrage because they violated isolation measures in place over the new coronavirus outbreak.
Videos circulated in the media showed a march of dozens of people who chanted against the decision to isolate their village, where ten virus cases were confirmed days ago.
Social media users criticized the residents, expressing concern that their rally will only help the rapid spread of the virus in the village.
Meanwhile, governor of the Gharbia governorate, Tarek Rahmi, dismissed the concerns, saying Thursday that the situation “was not dangerous”. He noted that al-Hayatem was disinfected “six times” in recent days and supplies and food have been brought in to last 15 days.
Local medical sources revealed that a restaurant employee in Tanta had contracted coronavirus and later infected seven members of his family and two work colleagues, reported local media.
Security sources denied to the Middle East News Agency (MENA) that al-Hayatem residents had held a rally. The images circulated online over their objection to the state’s isolation measures are “untrue”, they said.
On March 24, another march, this time in Alexandria city, stirred great debate in the country. Defying a ban on gatherings, the demonstrators made religious chants and called for salvation from the coronavirus.
