Repatriated Egyptians returning from abroad will be held in quarantine facilities at 27 university dormitories across the country, according to Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research Khaled Abdel Ghaffar.
In a telephone interview with the MBC channel on Saturday, Abdel Ghaffar said the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research has allocated student dormitories, among other facilities, as quarantine areas.
Various ministries and the coronavirus crisis management committee have held daily briefings to put into effect President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi’s directive to help Egyptians abroad return home.
He added that Cairo University facilities are expected to receive 1,500 people in the near future.
Other university dormitories across Egypt can provide an extra 25,000 rooms, accommodating approximately 30,000 people.
Abdel Ghaffar pointed out that those cities taking in returning Egyptians are receiving asymptomatic coronavirus (COVID-19) cases. He added that his ministry is working in cooperation with the Ministry of Health to ensure that those patients stay in the dormitories for no more than six days until recovery.
Abdel Ghaffar added that Egypt has been spearheading African efforts in conducting clinical research on the coronavirus. Since the start of the global health crisis, the country has formed scientific committees specialising in epidemiology and virology that are monitoring and studying the virus.
Abdel Ghaffar also said that Egypt has a major role in coronavirus-related research undertaken by research centres. He added that Japan confirmed Egypt is the first country that participated in clinical trials of Avigan as a possible treatment, and is currently waiting for the results.
27 university dormitories to receive repatriated Egyptians: Abdel Ghaffar
