Egypt and its capital Cairo, a mega-city home to some 20 million people, shut down on Wednesday evening as authorities launched a night-time curfew to tackle the spread of the coronavirus.
For more coronavirus news, visit our dedicated page.
In a city that never sleeps where restaurants and cafes are usually open until the wee hours, shop owners were closing shutters and commuters rushing home before the start of the 7 p.m. curfew that runs until 6 a.m.
Policemen were posted on key roads to stop any violators. Many streets were already almost deserted by 6:30 p.m.

“This is a disease, not a joke. People must stay at home, and should not leave their houses after curfew hours,” Mohamed El-Gabaly, a Cairo resident, told Reuters, as he stood in a major street with little traffic just before the curfew.
Egypt has stepped up measures aimed at preventing the spread of the coronavirus - closing airports and gyms, as well as suspending classes at schools and universities until mid-April. Restaurants are restricted to just delivering food.
Shops other than supermarkets and pharmacies will be required to close at 5 p.m. on weekdays, two hours earlier than the previous curfew, as well as on weekends.
Egypt, a country of 100 million, has reported 456 confirmed cases of the coronavirus and 21 deaths.
Like other countries, Egypt has taken steps to curtail the impact on the economy, including a surprise 3 percent interest rate cut and an injection of 20 billion pounds ($1.27 billion) to support the stock market.
Read more:
Video: Egypt disinfects pyramid complex amid coronavirus concerns
-
Video: Egypt disinfects pyramid complex amid coronavirus concerns
Egypt on Wednesday began sanitizing the Pyramids of Giza complex as part of measures to combat the spread of coronavirus.The last standing wonders of ... Art and culture -
Coronavirus: Egypt to extend flight suspension for two weeks
Egypt will extend a suspension of flights for two weeks from April 1, the minister for state information said on Tuesday.Flights at Egyptian airports ... Middle East -
Coronavirus : Egypt PM declares curfew for two weeks
Egypt has declared a curfew from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. for two weeks starting Wednesday to counter spread of coronavirus, the prime minister said. ... Middle East