The Egyptian Ministry of Health and Population on Friday announced 748 coronavirus cases, down from 752 on Thursday.
The ministry also announced 52 virus-related deaths and 432 recovering cases.
Egypt has now recorded a total of 160,463 confirmed cases, 125,603 recovered cases, and 8,853 virus-related deaths.
The country has officially entered the second wave of the pandemic, after cases rose steadily throughout November and December.
The peak reached so far during the second wave was on December 30, when the daily new cases reported at 1,411. Since then, the new daily cases started to plunge.
Government officials continue to urge the public to adhere to precautionary measures against the virus, and the Egyptian Cabinet has called on authorities to strictly enforce the country’s mask mandate, which applies to all public transportation and indoor public spaces.
Egyptian health and Population Minister Hala Zayed asserted earlier this month that Egypt has both the lowest coronavirus infection rates and death rates in relation to its population size.
Zayed refuted claims from the World Health Organization that Egypt has one of the highest death rates from coronavirus worldwide.
She pointed out that there have been fewer deaths in Egypt’s second wave than its first, with fewer people with pre-existing chronic health conditions dying.
Zayed pointed out that the lowered infection rates are due to possible herd immunity from the first wave within hard-hit areas in Cairo, Alexandria, and other urban regions.
The Eastern Mediterranean WHO Director Rick Brennan, said in December that the number of coronavirus cases recorded by Egypt’s Health Ministry does not reflect the actual figures for infections in the country.
Brennan said that there has been an increase in the number of cases in Egypt, and the WHO is closely examining the reports with health officials to help guide the country.
Zayed said in early January that Egypt’s coronavirus case numbers are one-tenth of the country’s actual cases, and this is not just the case in Egypt, but in all countries.
