Egypt on Friday confirmed 171 new coronavirus cases, bringing the country’s number of confirmed total cases so far to 2,844.
The total number of COVID-19 deaths has now reached two hundred and five nationwide, after announcing nine deaths today.
The newly infected cases are all Egyptian nationals who returned from abroad or were in contact with previously confirmed cases in Egypt, Health Ministry Spokesperson Khaled Megahed said, adding that the total number of fully-recovered cases rose to 646, all of whom have been discharged from isolation hospitals.
Fifty cases left quarantine on Friday.
A total of 891 positive cases have been tested in Egypt, with all results now returned negative.
Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly announced on Thursday that the government will institute additional curfew measures for the Easter holiday on Monday, April 20.
The measures will be similar to those already in place on Fridays and Saturdays, and will include the closure of parks and beaches, the suspension of public transportation, and the application of a curfew from eight pm to six am the following day.
Madbouly added, in a press conference on Thursday evening, that officials will continue to check that people are obeying the ordinance, part of an ongoing effort to follow up on the implementation of measures to curb the spread of coronavirus.
The Egyptian government previously extended its nationwide curfew until April 23 as part of its precautionary measures to limit the spread of coronavirus.
The hours of the curfew were also amended, and are now from eight pm until six am, part of an effort to reduce overcrowding in the hours before the curfew’s start time.
All measures regarding the closure of stores, the suspension of air traffic, the continued closure of schools, and the reduction of employees in state-owned companies will continue during this period.
Businesses will be closed from five pm until six am during the week, and will be subjected to a complete closure on Fridays and Saturdays. All means of public and private transportation will continue to be suspended during curfew hours.
The business closures do not include bakeries, pharmacies, grocery stores and supermarkets outside of shopping centers. Restaurants will continue to be limited to delivery only.
Journalists and media workers, doctors, healthcare and emergency services workers are exempted from the curfew.
