Coronavirus: Congressional prayers to be suspended across Egypt
Egypt has ordered the closure of mosques and churches and the suspension of public prayers in an attempt to tackle the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.
The endowments ministry made the announcement on Saturday that all congregational prayers would be temporarily halted, including Muslim Friday prayers.
There was no indication of how long the closures would remain in place.
The Grand Imam of Al-Azhar mosque also announced on Saturday that the mosque would be closing over virus fears.
Egypt has so far registered 285 confirmed coronavirus cases, including eight deaths.
On Saturday, Egypt's Coptic Orthodox Church also ordered all its churches to shut their doors and suspend mass for two weeks over coronavirus fears.
The church also banned visits to monasteries and closed condolences halls attached to churches, it added.
Each parish will name only one church for funeral prayers and the sermons will be restricted to the family of the deceased.
Egypt's Coptic Catholic Church on Friday suspended masses in its churches until further notice, but will keep doors open for individual prayers.
It also restricted funeral prayers to family members.
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