On Sunday the media adviser to the Prime Minister, Hany Younis, denied a widely-circulated rumor across social media that the Egyptian cabinet would impose a curfew starting Tuesday.
During a telephone call with journalist Ahmed Moussa on his show “On My Responsibility”, Younis stressed that the audio clip is a lie to encourage citizens to begin panic buying and empty out shops.
Security services are searching for those that perpetrate fake news regarding coronavirus and other matters, he added.
The cabinet’s media center on Wednesday said it has two new 24-hour numbers on WhatsApp for citizens to report on rumors regarding the novel coronavirus, warning that those who spread misinformation about the disease online will face legal measures under the penal code and cyber-crime law.
Citizens can call 01155508688 or 01155508851 to report any misinformation about the virus 24 hours a day, a statement from the cabinet media center said.
The statement told citizens to exercise caution when it comes to the information they share online to avoid being subjected to legal measures.
