A total of 1,052 nurseries across 26 of Egypt’s governorates have reopened so far as Egypt gradually turns to co-existing with the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), according to Minister of Social Solidarity Nevine El-Kabbaj.
In a statement on Saturday, El-Kabbaj said that they have been reopened under strict precautionary measures against the virus.
Citing a report outlining the commitment rate to the government’s precautionary measures so far, the statement noted that 98% of nurseries have committed to undertaking until now.
Only four nurseries have been shut down, do to their not adhering to the precautionary measures, of which two are located in the Red Sea Governorate, one is in Qaliubiya Govenorate, and one in Beni Suef Governorate.
A total of 31 teams from various departments at the ministry have been assigned to prepare follow-ups and inspection reports on nurseries, to ensure their commitment to the reopening measures. The ministry has conducted three online training sessions for all directors of family and childhood departments nationwide, as well as for other employees.
The precautionary measures include preventing visitors and parents from entering the nurseries, and obliging employees and children to wear face masks. At the same time, strict adherence policies to personal hygiene precautions are in place, with group activities also limited.
The measures include allocating an isolation room for suspected cases of the coronavirus, and if infection is found, the nursery will be evacuated and shut down for a week to be sterilised.
In July, the Ministry of Social Solidarity issued a decision allowing nurseries to reopen, but at a maximum 50% capacity. The decision also highlighted that strict precautionary measures were also to be implemented, as part of the government reopening plan to co-exist with the coronavirus.
