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Will Covid-19 put an end to hookah culture in Egypt?

Once a symbol of Egypt’s cafes and mentioned through history, hookahs are slowly disappearing from society amid the closure of cafes across the country due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Women smoke water pipes in a public cafe in downtown Cairo June 5, 2014. REUTERS/Asmaa Waguih (EGYPT - Tags: SOCIETY) - GM1EA660CDY01

Almost at every corner in Egypt, cafes used to serve millions of people on a daily basis. Hookah lovers would sit for hours smoking tobacco while busying themselves with their mobile phones or watching TV. Those who have a passion for soccer would simply sit in rows watching their favorite sport live on big screens.

The coronavirus pandemic has put an end to all of these scenes in a country that used to stay up until all hours of the morning. Many cafes that used to stay open all day have changed their businesses from serving hookah to selling fruit and vegetables or detergents.

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