The government’s decision to introduce a nighttime curfew got top billing on the talk shows last night: Al Hayah Al Youm's Lobna Assal (watch, runtime: 3:00) and Masaa DMC’s Ramy Radwan (watch, runtime: 5:14) both covered Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly's decision to impose a curfew from 7PM to 6AM. The move is the latest in a string of increasingly far-reaching decisions taken to halt the spread of the virus, which at the moment shows no sign of slowing down. Cabinet spokesman Nader Saad told Min Masr's Amr Khalil that people found to be violating the curfew will either be fined EGP 4k or imprisoned, and repeat offenders will receive both punishments (watch, runtime: 9:33). We have full coverage of the announcement in this morning’s Speed Round, below.

Targeted support for the private sector: The government will assist the private sector through sector-specific measures rather than a broader economic rescue program, Manpower Minister Mohamed Saafan told Al Hayah Al Youm’s Lobna Assal. He said assessments on support will be made based on the severity of impact on each sector. He called on irregular workers to record their information on the ministry’s website so that they can collect their exceptional EGP 500 stipend, adding that some 130k workers have registered so far and are being authenticated.

He said that he’s seen a marked difference in the private sector over the past week, with companies taking the pandemic more seriously and reducing capacity and shifts. He added that safety inspectors have been instructed to ensure that private companies are abiding by the state's precautionary measures (watch, runtime: 6:40).

Schools could be turned into hospitals if cases top 1k: The government may be forced to convert some schools into hospitals if the number of cases rises above 1k, Information Minister Osama Heikal told Yahduth Fi Misr’s Sherif Amer. He also implied that ministers wouldn’t move to impose a full curfew, suggesting that preventing people from buying their necessities would not be a logical policy choice (watch, runtime: 10:55).

The daily covid-19 update: Another person died and 36 new confirmed cases were discovered yesterday, taking the country’s covid-19 case total to 402 and the overall death toll to 20, the Health Ministry said in its daily statement yesterday. Twelve people made full recoveries and were discharged from hospital, and the number of cases to turn from positive to negative — indicating that they are on the road to recovery — reached 100. Masaa DMC’s Ramy Radwan (watch, runtime: 2:13) and Min Masr’s Reham Ibrahim (watch, runtime: 16:26:) covered the statement.