Egypt's Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly decided on Monday to put off large gatherings until further notice, without revealing further details.

The decision is part of precautionary measures the government has adopted to stop the spread of the coronavirus.

In a quick response to the cabinet's decision, Egypt's culture ministry announced the suspension of cultural activities with large public gatherings until further notice.

The interior ministry has also suspended prison visits nationwide for 10 days as of Tuesday in an attempt to protect public and inmates' safety.

The virus, which emerged in China's Wuhan late last year, has so far killed over 3,800 people, and infected more than 111,000 others. Most of the cases have so far been in China, although recent weeks have seen major new clustres develop in other spots.

In Egypt, the virus has infected 55 people and killed a German tourist, according to the health ministry.

Since the emergence of the virus last December, the Egyptian government has been taking a number of preventive measures in an effort to limit the spread of the virus.

Egypt raised the alert level in hospitals, airports, and land ports, along with suspending flight to many countries that have inflicted with the rapidly growing virus.

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