Egypt’s Health Ministry on Saturday confirmed 1,203 new coronavirus cases, bringing the country’s total number of confirmed cases up to 244,520.
The total number of COVID-19-related deaths has now reached 14,269 nationwide, after the ministry announced 63 deaths.
And 760 patients were discharged from quarantine at isolation hospitals, raising Egypt’s total number of fully-recovered cases to 180,577.
In response to climbing infection numbers, the Egyptian cabinet on Wednesday announced that from May 6 to May 21, all restaurants, cafés, shops, and malls must close at nine pm.
Furthermore, all public beaches and parks will be closed during the five-day Eid al-Fitr holiday, which began May 12.
The Head of the Ministry of Health’s Scientific Committee to Combat Coronavirus Hossam Hosny, stressed that the authorities are taking strict measures to prevent the arrival of the Indian virus strain to Egypt.
During phone-in on Friday with al-Oula channel of the state-TV, Hosny said that all Egyptian ports are at high-alert to prevent the entry of anyone suspected to carry the Indian coronavirus strain.
The Indian strain is severe, has a high mortality rate, and is resistant to vaccines, he warned.
Hosny said that precautionary measures are a lifeline for the individual, their family and society, and stressed that the only solution to prevent further spread is strict adherence to all measures such as wearing masks, social distancing, washing hands and seeking health care.
