CAIRO: Egypt’s local development ministry has cut staffing levels by half amid a surge in  coronavirus infections in the country.

Local Development Minister Mahmoud Sharawi announced the move on Friday, saying that female employees caring for children under 12 as well as staff with chronic illnesses will be included in the workforce cuts.

Egypt’s health ministry on Friday reported 579 new coronavirus cases and 26 deaths, bringing the total to 124,280 cases and 7,041 deaths.

Sharawi said that the ministry should continue disinfection of its buildings on a regular basis as well as providing sterilization supplies and disinfectants to mass transit lines allocated to employees.

He urged governors to continue applying precautionary and preventive measures, including imposing fines on violators, and called for the ministries of local and interior development to step up safety campaigns on mass and public transport.

Sharawi also called on the governorates to ensure that all stores, restaurants and malls follow instructions on fighting the coronavirus, including a ban on the provision of hookah.

Governors should continue closing event houses, wedding gatherings in closed halls and private lesson centers.

He demanded that governorates reduce gatherings and rotate workers in government agencies “in a manner that does not affect services provided to citizens.”