Egypt Slowly Reopens as Coronavirus Death Toll Climbs

The Egyptian government is lifting many restrictions, including ending the nighttime curfew. (Hamada Elrasam/VOA)

After 100 days of closure, the Egyptian Museum in Cairo re-opens to visitors, July 1, 2020. Local news reports an average of $1 billion tourism revenue has been lost in three months of lockdown. (Hamada Elrasam/VOA)

Cinemas are now allowed to re-open at 25 percent capacity, but many do not have new films to screen. And with massive pandemic-related unemployment, few people can afford the tickets. (Hamada Elrasam/VOA)

Wedding halls are still closed, but couples are now coming out at night to celebrate in the streets in Cairo, June 28, 2020. (Hamada Elrasam/VOA)

Schools in Egypt re-opens for high school seniors to take their final exams. In Cairo, parents often wait outside schools while their children sit important tests, June 21, 2020. (Hamada Elrasam/VOA)

Mosques have been closed for months and are still closed for Friday prayers. But other, usually less-attended prayer sessions are open and more popular than before in this deeply religious country, June 22, 2020. (Hamada Elrasam/VOA)

Between prayer sessions, mosque workers try to sanitize all mats and the prayer area to try to slow the spread of coronavirus, June 28, 2020. (Hamada Elrasam/VOA)

Washing rooms for worshipers to clean-up in before prayers remain shuttered, June 28, 2020. (Hamada Elrasam/VOA)

Coffee shops are allowed to reopen at 25 percent capacity but very few people showed up to partake, June 28, 2020. (Hamada Elrasam/VOA)

The government hopes the use of paper cups in restaurants will help curb the spread of the coronavirus, June 28, 2020. (Hamada Elrasam/VOA)

Masks and gloves are mandatory for restaurant staff in Cairo, June 27, 2020. (Hamada Elrasam/VOA)