Data shows that 85% of Egypt’s coronavirus (COVID-19) infections have recovered without treatment due to their having mild symptoms, said World Health Organization (WHO) representative in Egypt, John Jabbour .
In a press conference on Monday, Jabbour highlighted that 13% of Egypt’s coronavirus infections are among healthcare workers.
Earlier this week, Egypt’s Medical Syndicate said that, so far, three doctors died of the coronavirus, with 43 others testing positive for the virus.
Jabbour noted that Egypt’s coronavirus death rate stands at 7.6%, adding that the 30% of fatalities died before reaching quarantine hospitals, according to Ministry of Health data.
He added that the WHO and the Ministry of Health are collaborating together to find out the reasons for Egypt’s high death rate from the virus.
Jabbour praised Egypt’s efforts and the measures the government has taken to curb the spread of the coronavirus. He also praised the “100 Million Health” initiative and other government endeavours aiming to improve and enhance Egypt’s health system.
Jabbour said that Egypt has, from the beginning, taken the matter seriously, and had been tracking the infections no matter the geographical distribution. He also applauded efforts by President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi, Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly and Health Minister Hala Zayed in limiting the outbreak.
Egypt was amongst the first four countries in the Eastern Mediterranean Region to receive the laboratory reagents for the coronavirus.
In the meantime, Jabbour said that the WHO is providing Egypt with the support to track people in contact with coronavirus infections. These efforts have been put in place to combat and control any further spread, as well as spread awareness messages and correcting misconceptions.
He said that the Ministry of Health has been monitoring acute respiratory diseases through a comprehensive system of epidemiological and laboratory monitoring. This has involved monitoring cases of respiratory illness at over 450 hospitals.
Jabbour noted that Egypt faces challenges particularly in coordinating between the concerned health sectors, optimal utilisation of resource,s and dealing with stigma and discrimination against coronavirus cases particularly among healthcare professionals.
Egypt confirmed Monday 125 new coronavirus cases and 5 deaths, raising total to 2,190 infections and 164 deaths. Of which 498 cases have recovered
The government has taken several precautionary measures to curb the spread of the virus, including enforcing a night curfew, closing houses of worship and commercial malls and suspending flights.
The armed forces announced that it has launched five new face mask production lines with a daily capacity of 100,000 units. A total of 45 military hospitals have been prepared as part of state efforts to limit the spread of coronavirus, alongside 22 quarantine hospitals and 1,000 ambulances allocated to the efforts.
