The Health Ministry reported 272 new cases and 14 deaths, bringing the country’s total cases to 6465 with 429 deaths. Up to 1562 have recovered and been discharged from quarantines. All 27 governorates in Egypt have coronavirus (Covid-19) infections now, with New Valley and North Sinai joining the list last week.
New Valley announced five new coronavirus infections on Saturday, raising the total in the governorate to 32 cases. New Valley Governor Mohamed Zamalout said on Saturday that 249 others have undergone Covid-19 test and their results came negative, all of them were visitors and workers at El Kharga and El Dakhla hospitals. He added that those who were in contact with infected cases have been quarantined in their homes for 14 days.
Meanwhile, Suez Health Directorate announced a new coronavirus infection of a woman who was in contact with an infected case. There are about 25 cases in the governorate.
Ahmed Badawi, MP of Tukh and Qaha cities in Al Qalyubia governorate, said in a Facebook post on Saturday that 17 new coronavirus infections, including a doctor and three children, were detected in the region.
Health Minister Hala Zayed said on Saturday that many coronavirus infections have been reported among children and infants including two infants aged 7 and 9 months.
Hussam Hosny, head of the health ministry’s scientific committee to combat the coronavirus, said that Egypt reached the peak of coronavirus on 26 April. This phase is expected to take 7 or 10 days before the numbers start to decrease, he believes.
Hosny added in a televised statement on Saturday night that the ministry had expected that the country would witness the peak of coronavirus during the first five or eight days of Ramadan and this really happened.
Since the beginning of Ramadan, there has been a daily increase of 10% in coronavirus infections except for Saturday, he noted.
He said that Egyptians have not totally committed to the curfew hours during Ramadan, adding that the government has to strengthen penalties to the violators of the curfew. The citizens have to cooperate to curb the outbreak of coronavirus.
The Health Ministry began on Saturday to prepare 34 chest and fever hospitals across the country to serve as quarantine hospitals. The plan includes training their medical staff on infection control standards and Covid-19 treatment protocols.
