Egypt’s first coronavirus-related death of a doctor occurred on Sunday in an Ismailia quarantine hospital.
Dr Ahmed El-Lawah, a 50-year-old Pathology Professor and head of Al-Azhar University’s Department of Medical Analysis, reportedly contracted the virus from an Indian citizen who had undergone tests at El-Lawah’s private medical laboratory. When the Indian national’s positive test results came through, Dr El-Lawah self-isolated until symptoms emerged and then he went into quarantine, media reports suggest.
The Egyptian Medical Syndicate (EMS) mourned El-Lawah on Sunday, describing him as a “martyr of duty”.
The EMS’ Youth Committee also mourned El-Lawah, saying in a statement that the late doctor is “the first soldier of white army to become a martyr”.
In a Facebook post last week, El-Lawah urged people to stay home to limit the coronavirus’ spread in the community. He wrote, “Why stay home? And what will happen if we stayed for two weeks at home? The virus might die if it does not find a host body. This is why we need to stay home.”
Social media users also mourned the physician, describing doctors and nursing staff as the heroes in the current battle against the pandemic.
Last week, the EMS announced that a doctor was infected with coronavirus in Cairo’s El Monira Hospital. Earlier, EMS member and former head of the Dakahlia Doctors Syndicate, Dr Ibrahim Al-Zayat, said the number of coronavirus infections among Egypt’s medical staff has risen to 26 cases.
President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi ordered, on Sunday, a 75% increase in allowances for medical professionals, as well as a bonus for personnel working in public hospitals.
The Ministry of Health reported on Sunday 33 new coronavirus cases in Egypt, including four deaths from Cairo. The country’s total number of infections until Sunday was 610, with 40 deaths and 132 recoveries.
