Story By: Lee Bullen, Sub Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency:  Newsflash

Newsflash/@Mohamed_Emam

This is the moment crowds of Egyptian religious devotees take to the streets and chant prayers in protest at the COVID-19 outbreak while ignoring social distancing rules.

The protest took place in Alexandria, Egypt’s second largest city which was founded by Alexander the Great in 331 BC, and it reportedly started with residents praying from their balconies for the pandemic to end.

Earlier this week, the Egyptian government announced a two-week curfew between 7pm and 6am to prevent the spread of the virus.

According to local media, praying residents then decided to leave their balconies and windows to take to the streets.

Despite being advised to stay in their homes, devotees marched through the streets of Alexandria while chanting prayers for the virus to go away.

In the footage, hundreds of residents are seen walking close together along the street while chanting and raising the torches on their phones.

The video was shared on Twitter by netizen ‘Mohamed Emam’ where it has been viewed 640,000 times.

Social media user ‘Familiartoad’ commented: “I’m afraid that gathering together and chanting isn’t going to deter the virus, but very well may invite it over!”

Netizen ‘Slamdunkdink’ said: “How do you protest against a virus? I do know how you can spread a virus. Hint, it has to do with crowds.”

As of 25th March, Egypt has reported 402 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 20 related deaths, according to the latest data from the Johns Hopkins University.

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