The police will take any actions necessary to ensure the effective enforcement of the curfew decision announced Tuesday to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus, Interior Minister Mahmoud Tawfik warned.

The World Health Organization (WHO)’s Representative in Egypt John Jabbour on Tuesday warned that Egypt is at a crossroads in the battle against the coronavirus and failure to abide by the state’s instructions could lead to a scenario similar to Italy and Spain.

Egyptian security forces have allegedly tortured a man to death inside the National Security Agency headquarters in the Nile Delta city of Menoufia, The New Arab’s Arabic-language service reported on Saturday.

As the coronavirus spreads globally, the pandemic raises formidable challenges for prison administrations and governments. If – or rather, when – the virus gets into prisons, it will be nearly impossible to stop it from spreading rapidly on the inside.

A coalition of rights groups, activists, politicians and members of civil society are calling on the United Nations to ask Egypt to release its political prisoners amid the global coronavirus pandemic.

In a country like Egypt, where basic rights are severely stifled, there are many rights-related ramifications during a public health crisis. One of the most urgent is the impact on vulnerable groups, such as those in closed, densely crowded prisons.

Egyptian authorities yesterday said visits to all prisons would be suspended for ten days starting Tuesday “in the interest of public health and the safety of the inmates after an increase in the number of Coronavirus infection cases.”

The legal team representing the family of former Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi has expressed grave concern regarding the safety of his imprisoned son, warning he’s at risk of being “poisoned”.

Egypt’s Interior Ministry said on Monday that four “wanted criminals” were killed after an exchange of fire in al-Manzala city, Dakahlia Governorate, during a raid on a home that authorities have described as a “drug trafficking hotbed.”

Eight members of Congress including Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib have written a letter to the Egyptian ambassador to the US expressing their concern for human rights defenders in the north African state.