Egypt washes down Giza Zoo with disinfectant

Animals at Giza Zoo peer out from inside their enclosures as workers spray disinfectants across the zoo. The more than century-old venue has been closed since March as a precaution against the coronavirus.

Giza:It is mostly a quiet day for the animals at the Giza Zoo, except for the noise coming from the machines spraying disinfectants on their enclosures.

Animals at Egypt's Giza Zoo peer out from inside their enclosures as workers spray disinfectants across the zoo.

The more than century-old venue has been closed since March as a precaution against the coronavirus. The animals have had no visitors inspecting them in the past month since the zoo's closure to combat the spread of the coronavirus. On Thursday, workers disinfected the zoo as another precaution.

Along with all zoos across Egypt, the Giza Zoo closed its doors to visitors on Mar. 17 to prevent crowded gatherings.

The measure was taken to protect both the visitors and the animals, says Mohamed Ragai, the head of the central administration of zoos. The zoo which is typically bustling with families and curious children has since been empty.

In mid-March, the Egyptian government ordered schools, mosques, churches and archaeological sites shut.

To encourage people to stay home, it also shut down restaurants, coffee shops, malls and gyms. And a curfew is in place from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m.

Egypt has had more than 3,144 coronavirus cases and 239 deaths, as of Monday. Among the fatalities are several tourists and two senior military officers.

It is estimated that the true figures could be much higher due to the lack of widespread testing. For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks.

For some, especially older adults and people, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, and can be fatal.

(AP)