Egyptian youths plunge into the Nile during Sham El Nassim - in pictures
Sham El Nessim is a national secular holiday celebrated by all Egyptians on the Orthodox Easter Monday
Egyptian youths dive into the water at the entrance of a canal near the Nile river delta barrages in Qanater al-Khayreya, north of Cairo, during the holiday of Sham al-Nessim. AFP
Young men swimming and diving near the Nile river delta barrages in Qanater al-Khayreya during Sham al-Nessim, a Pharaonic feast that marks the start of spring. This year the holiday coincides with the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan. AFP
2021-05-03 23:55:46 GMT2021-05-04 07:55:46(Beijing Time) Xinhua English
Photo taken on May 3, 2021 shows a closed park during the Sham El-Nessim in Cairo, Egypt. Several Egyptian governors, including governor of Cairo, issued directives on April 30 to close public parks and beaches ahead of the Sham El-Nessim, the traditional Egyptian spring festival which falls on May 3 this year, as the country has witnessed a surge in coronavirus cases. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa)
Photo taken on May 3, 2021 shows a sealed open space by the Nile during the Sham El-Nessim in Cairo, Egypt. Several Egyptian governors, including governor of Cairo, issued directives on April 30 to close public parks and beaches ahead of the Sham El-Nessim, the traditional Egyptian spring festival which falls on May 3 this year, as the country has witnessed a surge in coronavirus cases. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa)
PHOTO / WORLD
By Xinhua Published: May 04, 2021 08:33 AM
Photo taken on May 3, 2021 shows a closed park during the Sham El-Nessim in Cairo, Egypt. Several Egyptian governors, including governor of Cairo, issued directives on April 30 to close public parks and beaches ahead of the Sham El-Nessim, the traditional Egyptian spring festival which falls on May 3 this year, as the country has witnessed a surge in coronavirus cases. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa)
Photo taken on May 3, 2021 shows a sealed open space by the Nile during the Sham El-Nessim in Cairo, Egypt. Several Egyptian governors, including governor of Cairo, issued directives on April 30 to close public parks and beaches ahead of the Sham El-Nessim, the traditional Egyptian spring festival which falls on May 3 this year, as the country has witnessed a surge in coronavirus cases. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa)
CAIRO: Egyptian Minister of Housing, Utilities and Urban Communities Assem Al-Jazzar instructed authorities to close all parks and beaches in cities during the Sham El-Nessim holiday, as part of measures to limit the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. Sham El-Nessim is a national holiday, when many Egyptians gather in public spaces for picnics.
Al-Jazzar stressed the need to raise the level of preparedness during the holiday period, vowing to inspect malls, restaurants and cafes to ensure the implementation of regulations to fight the pandemic, according to a press release.
The minister said that any violations should be dealt with firmly, whether it is in restaurants and coffee shops or it is people not wearing masks, especially on public transportation.