Egypt reopens hotels to tourists with strict rules including just 25 per cent capacity and on-site doctors

EGYPT is opening hotels to tourists once again as it eases lockdown restrictions, although guests will be forced to follow new measures amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Hotels will only be able to operate at 25 per cent capacity, and must have a clinic and doctor on-site as cases hit 6,465 with 429 deaths.

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The new regulations will see only domestic travellers at first, with the new additional health measures in place until the end of May, the country's cabinet said on Sunday.

For hotels to resume operations they must have a clinic with a resident doctor, regularly screen temperatures and install disinfection equipment, the cabinet said in a statement.

Guests must be registered online and workers have to undergo rapid coronavirus tests when entering resorts, while a hotel floor or small building must be assigned as a quarantine area for positive or suspected coronavirus cases.

From June 1, hotels will be allowed to work with a maximum 50 per cent capacity.

Resorts are not permitted to host weddings or parties, organise entertainment activities, serve shisha water pipes or offer open buffets.

Hotel restaurants will depend instead on pre-set menus and wider spaces between tables.

The government has suspended international passenger flights and closed hotels, restaurants and cafes, as well as imposed a night curfew.

The virus has shut down Egypt's tourist sector, which accounts for 12 to 15 per cent of gross domestic product, leading to losses estimated at $1 billion (£803 million) per month.

Egypt has eased its restrictions for the holy fasting month of Ramadan, allowing more businesses to reopen and shortening the night-time curfew.

Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly has said the country would start returning to normal life gradually after Ramadan.

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Other countries are also reducing its lockdown measures, with Spain allowing people to go outside.

Greece is opening small businesses from today, along with Italy who are seeing falling numbers of new coronavirus cases.

We've rounded up some of the cheapest holiday deals for 2021, with breaks in Egypt from £455pp next year.