University makes facemasks mandatory to fight coronavirus

Egypt’s state-run Alexandria University has made the wearing of protective facemasks mandatory, becoming the first academic institution to take such a step in the Middle Eastern country, which is struggling to contain an outbreak of the new coronavirus.

The university said in a statement that wearing a mask with effect from 11 May has become a must for all staff in its schools and affiliated administrations due to a spike in virus cases in the country.

Egypt, a country of around 100 million people, has thus far reported over 9,700 coronavirus cases resulting in 533 deaths. Egyptian authorities closed classes at all educational institutions, including public and private universities, in mid-March as part of measures to curb the spread of the virus. No date has yet been set for resumption of classes in universities.

According to the decision taken by Alexandria University, students will have to wear facemasks on the campus.

“Anyone not wearing a mask will not be allowed into the university. The university will not offer services to anyone who does not wear a mask in order to protect the safety of everyone,” added the university, which is based in the Mediterranean city of Alexandria.

The university’s schools of nursing and specialty education (housekeeping economics and art education) have started the manufacture of facemasks as part of its community responsibilities. “The manufacture process is in line with international medical standards,” the university’s president, Essam El-Kurdi, said.

The masks will be made available to the university’s staff and medical teams working at its affiliated hospitals for low prices, he added in media remarks.

The university board has, meanwhile, unveiled a precautionary plan in preparation for restarting classes at any time. The precautions include installing sterilisation gates at the entrances of the campus, regularly disinfecting lecture halls and strict enforcement of social distancing rules, the university said.

The start of the academic year and reopening of suspended classes in Egypt are usually determined by the Supreme Council of Universities, a state agency in charge of drawing up academic policies.

Last month, the council announced the cancellation of the final exams of the second semester in universities. It said the exams would be replaced by either a research paper or an online exam, with each university given the right to set its own rules in assessing and approving the research. The online exams will be limited to academic institutions having the necessary technological infrastructure to conduct such tests.

Senior students’ final-year exams would be postponed until the shutdowns end.