Also, many thanks from me as well for this!

Some friends of mine are Egyptian Copts and their extended family all live in Cairo. There are three things I recall them saying about their family during that time.

1) The extended family all got and stayed/lived together during that time.
2) They didn't go out unless they absolutely had to.
3) They had enough food to eat, but not enough bread to eat it with, as they ran out. Bread is essential as it is used as a utensil to eat all of the other food. So, they felt they should have planned that aspect better.