Egypt resumes hotel operations for domestic tourists amid virus outbreak

The Egyptian government announced on Sunday that it will permit hotels to resume operations for local tourists as long as they operate close to 25% capacity until May 31. The hotels must also have a variety of medical strategies and an open clinic with available resident doctors to prepare should threats of the coronavirus surface anew.

The Egypt’s tourism sector represents 12% to 15% of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) and was severely affected by the pandemic which results to estimated $1 billion losses every month.

International passenger flights were also suspended by the Egyptian administration along with the implemented curfews at night.

Before entering resorts, the visitors must be enrolled online and the employees need to undergo rapid coronavirus testing. There are allotted quarantine areas in hotel floors and small standalone establishments for individuals suspected of having COVID-19 and those who had already tested positive.

According to Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, Egypt would start going back to its everyday life gradually after the Ramadan.