Covid-19 Precautions in Egypt
Shoppers, some masked, some not, at Saad Zaghloul market (20 minutes walk from downtown Cairo)—some public spaces in Egypt are quite crowded, and mask wearing is in the minority.
When I said I would travel to Egypt in October, a lot of friends and family asked about what precautions were being taken to social distance and keep people safe in the time of Covid-19.
Even though I have only been in Cairo for just over a week, I have noticed a lot of different Covid-19 precautions (or a lack thereof) in public spaces. Over the past eight days, I have dined at restaurants, shopped at grocery stores and open-air markets, toured six different hotels, and taken public transportation and taxis. In this post I will share what I have noticed, along with data from the Egyptian Government, regarding the status of Covid-19 in Egypt.
If you are interested in learning more about Covid-19 precautions in airplanes and at airports during the journey from the U.S. to Egypt, check out this blog post.
Individually-wrapped towels at the JW Marriott resort in Mirage City. Five star hotels were among the places with the most consistent Covid-19 precautions in place.
Covid-19 data
At the time of writing, according to the World Health Organization, Egypt has had 105,159 cases of Covid-19 and 6,099 deaths. The peak number of cases and deaths occurred between May and August, with the last couple of months being relatively stable, with around 100-150 reported cases per day and between 10-20 reported deaths per day.
A screenshot showing the WHO Covid-19 data for Egypt from the World Health Organization.
Even though this data is much more positive than the abysmal state of Covid-19 infection and death rates in the United States, many people I have talked to in Egypt dispute the low numbers. I have heard from friends convinced they had Covid-19 after having contact with a confirmed positive case and falling ill being denied PCR tests and only being given a blood test, known to be less accurate, that read as negative. Their subsequent diagnosis was something more benign, like bronchitis. I have also heard from friends that there seem to be a lot more funerals lately, especially for older people. Often the cause of death is not given, and it is assumed that people simply die of “old age”.
Only having stories and personal experiences of friends to go off of though, it is hard to dispute the accuracy of the Covid-19 data as reported by the Egyptian Government. At face value, it seems like Covid-19 is much more under control in Egypt than it is in the United States. Many people I have talked to in Egypt feel this way, from my taxi driver from the airport who informed me that “there is not Covid-19 in Egypt anymore” to a hotel manager I met with a few days ago who lamented tourists’ fears of traveling to Egypt because according to him, Covid-19 in Egypt was completely under control.
Covid-19 precautions in hotels
The first night I arrived in Egypt I stayed at the Steigenberger hotel in Tahrir Square, and last week I toured six different four and five-star hotels with my travel partner company in Egypt. During my hotel stay and during the tours, I noticed that hotels in Egypt are taking Covid-19 precautions very seriously. These included:
Mask-wearing in all public spaces of hotels by all staff and most guests
Hand sanitizer readily available
Social distancing measures enforced through use of distance-markers, plexiglass shields, and closing of certain areas
Occupancy rates restricted to 50% or less
Minimum of 48 hours after a room is vacated and cleaned before the next guest may enter
Temperature checks at entry points at each hotel
Click through the six photos in the gallery to see specific examples at different properties I have been to:
It was really heartening to see how seriously Covid-19 was being taken by the hotels I went to, from encouraging guests to check-in on an app and use a keyless entry system for their room, to managers setting an example by always wearing a mask.
That being said, a big gap I noticed at hotels was the enforcement of mask wearing for guests. At many hotels I went to, I saw signs up requiring guests to be masked at all times when in public spaces in the hotel, but at every hotel I went to, only about half of the guests I saw wore masks in public areas.
Tip: If you are very serious about Covid-19 precautions, but also would like to travel to Egypt in 2020-2021, consider emailing or calling the hotel you are thinking of staying at to see what types of precautions they have in place and how they are keeping guests safe.
Covid-19 precautions in other public spaces
Aside from the consistency seen at hotels, I have noticed that Covid precautions vary from public space to public space. Overall, transportation outlets, restaurants, and markets seem to have little to no regulations and do not enforce mask wearing or social distancing, although some are trying.
Transportation
Since being back in Cairo, I have taken public buses, the metro, taxis, and Uber to get around. In all but Uber, I have noticed a lack of social distancing inconsistent mask wearing.
Uber (most recommended for those who are concerned about Covid): Uber requires riders to check a box before assigning them a driver, stating that they are wearing a face covering and will keep it on for the entire Uber ride. Uber also states that the driver is expected to do the same. I have taken several Uber rides over the past week, and noticed this precaution is followed every time.
Read about other Covid-19 precautions Uber Egypt is taking
Metro: The metro is one of the fastest, most efficient, and consistent ways to get around Cairo. However, the metro can often be crowded (making staying 6 feet away from someone impossible), and usually fewer than 25% of people riding the metro wear a mask.
Taxis: Taxi drivers are not required to wear a mask, and I have not had a taxi driver yet wear a mask during the taxi ride. I have noticed some taxi drivers (and passengers) who have passed me while I was walking in the street wearing masks.
Buses: Buses are similar to the metro in Covid-19 precautions. Social distancing is impossible, and mask wearing is in the minority.
Restaurants
Restaurants vary on their Covid-19 protocols and enforcement. Over the past week, I have been inside restaurants where all staff wear masks, surfaces are sanitized regularly, hand sanitizer is present on every table, and QR code menus are the norm. Even though I have seen some signs up at restaurants stating that masks are required when up from the table or when not eating and drinking, I have yet to experience a restaurant where this is enforced. Fortunately in Egypt, many restaurants have outdoor dining options, and weather here allows for outdoor dining year-round.
Many restaurants have some Covid-19 precautions in place. At Room Art Space (a lovely coffeeshop, cafe, and art space) I noticed this QR code menu, along with consistent sanitizing of tables and mask-wearing by all staff. I have not seen any restaurant requiring patrons to wear masks.
Tourists sites (coming soon)
I will be updating this post at the beginning of November with the Covid-19 precautions I witness as I visit more tourist sites in Egypt like the Egyptian Museum, The Pyramids, and the Valley of the Kings. I can already say that having driven or walked past several sites, I have noticed all staff and police officers wearing masks, and luckily, many sites are outdoors, allowing for easy social distancing and reducing the necessity of mask wearing.
Other public spaces
I have gone several times to open-air markets, grocery stores, the gym, and other stores. In only one place (a home goods store) was I told to put on a mask, and aside from that store, fewer than 25% of folks I see out and about in other public spaces wear masks and stay socially distant.
Shopping at a home goods store after renting a room at an apartment for the month. This is the only place where I was asked to put on a mask upon entering. Every single person in the store was wearing a mask.
Summing up
I hope this post has helped paint a picture of what the current Coronavirus situation is like in Egypt, and what Covid-19 precautions can be expected. Of course, most of the information in this post is from my personal experience, so even though it cannot be completely indicative of what one can expect throughout Egypt in relation to Covid-19, I hope it is a starting point as you consider embarking on your Egypt adventure during or after the pandemic.
For those of you who are ready, Egypt is ready and waiting, and by doing things like choosing a hotel that is serious about Covid-19, using private transportation to get around, and focusing on restaurants that offer outdoor dining options, one can take several important steps to stay safe.
What are your thoughts about the Covid-19 precautions I shared? Do you feel comfortable traveling to Egypt? If not, what is holding you back? What Covid-19 related questions do you have? Leave us a comment below!
