President of Egypt’s Ain Shams University Mahmoud al-Metainy on Monday revealed the details of Egypt’s first field hospital for coronavirus treatment, saying that it has been set up on a plot of land behind the university measuring 4,500 meters squared.
During a phone conversation with television host Azza Mostafa on the satellite channel Sada al-Balad, al-Metainy said that the hospital was established to meet the state’s needs in treating coronavirus cases.
Work on the hospital began on June 1 and was completed in 15 days. The hospital was built under the supervision of the Engineering Authority of the Armed Forces and funded by both donations to the Tahya Masr (Long Live Egypt) Fund and the generosity of various civil society organizations.
He added that the hospital cost LE 33 million to build, LE 27 million of which came from the university and the Central Bank of Egypt. Some companies, meanwhile, donated beds and medical equipment.
He pointed out that the hospital has 171 beds, including 11 ICU beds. The hospital is thus intended to primarily receive mild coronavirus cases that do not require intensive care.
The hospital, he said, will be ready to receive patients starting Thursday.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
