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Source: https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/...infection-coverup-military-sisi-herd-immunity
Coronavirus and cover-up: Egypt's two-fronted war
A high-ranking military officer tells MEE the outbreak is much wider spread than the government admits - or is prepared to handle
By Amr Khalifa
Published date: 29 March 2020 12:18 UTC | Last update: 5 hours 52 min ago
For weeks, suspicions have abounded that the Egyptian government has not been open about the extent of the country’s Covid-19 outbreak.
Multiple events this past week, including the deaths of two senior military leaders and now the leak of a military document suggesting that the virus is more widespread than previously disclosed, have only entrenched that view.
When Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi finally emerged from a long public absence on Sunday, he stressed that his government was dealing with the crisis with full transparency and encouraged Egyptians to stay at home for two weeks.
“We don't want the crisis to hit larger numbers,” he said during the same TV address.
The government did not implement a lockdown, perhaps being savvy enough to recognise the economic hardship that would entail for millions even if it would have made more sense from a public health standpoint. You can't employ social distancing only 50 percent of the time...
Coronavirus and cover-up: Egypt's two-fronted war
A high-ranking military officer tells MEE the outbreak is much wider spread than the government admits - or is prepared to handle
By Amr Khalifa
Published date: 29 March 2020 12:18 UTC | Last update: 5 hours 52 min ago
For weeks, suspicions have abounded that the Egyptian government has not been open about the extent of the country’s Covid-19 outbreak.
Multiple events this past week, including the deaths of two senior military leaders and now the leak of a military document suggesting that the virus is more widespread than previously disclosed, have only entrenched that view.
When Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi finally emerged from a long public absence on Sunday, he stressed that his government was dealing with the crisis with full transparency and encouraged Egyptians to stay at home for two weeks.
“We don't want the crisis to hit larger numbers,” he said during the same TV address.
The government did not implement a lockdown, perhaps being savvy enough to recognise the economic hardship that would entail for millions even if it would have made more sense from a public health standpoint. You can't employ social distancing only 50 percent of the time...