CAIRO — With the rapid spread of the coronavirus in many countries around the world, and at a time when the Egyptian government urges citizens to stay at home, imposing several measures to fight the outbreak, many people still wander around in the streets without caring about the virus, preoccupied with more important matters.

These people are the most affected by the crisis, but they do not have the luxury of staying at home. They are irregular workers, a segment of society that amounts to 12 million to 14 million people, according to figures Al-Monitor obtained from Secretary-General of the Egyptian Trade Union Federation Mohamed Wahballah.

An irregular worker is a person who works without benefitting from insurance or social security and gets paid by the day.

Despite the government warning citizens about the country entering the third stage of the outbreak of the pandemic — which is when the source of the infection becomes untraceable and difficult to control — thousands and even millions are yet to realize the seriousness of the virus and are struggling to secure a livelihood.