The Ministry of Health will increase to 376 the number of hospitals across Egypt treating coronavirus (COVID-19) patients, Minister of Health Hala Zayed has announced.
The number of hospitals currently dealing with coronavirus patients has reached 340 nationwide, after 320 isolation hospitals at the national level were added, Zayed said.
During the weekly cabinet meeting on Wednesday, Zayed added that these hospitals include 35,152 beds, 2,218 ventilators, and 3,539 intensive care beds.
The Ministry of Health is working to prepare a further 36 hospitals to deal with coronavirus patients, that will bring the total to 376 nationwide, she said.
On Wednesday, Egypt reported 1,079 new coronavirus cases, and 36 new deaths. The total number of confirmed cases has increased to 28,615 cases, and the total number of fatalities has also increased to 1,088 deaths. A total of 7,350 cases recovered and have been discharged from quarantine facilities at hospitals.
Zayed added that infections in Egypt are also treated at youth hostels, with other cases undergoing home isolation. She noted that a total of 5,894 cases have been transferred to youth hostels, while 5,484 cases are in home isolation.
The minister briefed the cabinet on the latest updates regarding the pandemic in Egypt, also highlighting the work taking place at fever and chest hospitals, notably the Abbasiya Hospital, the Imbaba Fever Hospital, and the Fatimid Cairo Hospital.
The Ministry of Health is providing medicines in accordance with the approved treatment protocols, she said, adding that 500,000 doses were provided for critical cases in hospitals. An additional eight million doses are available for those who have come into direct contact with confirmed infections, as well as two million doses for coronavirus cases that are in home isolation.
Zayed said that a total of 40 laboratories across Egypt are conducting coronavirus tests, in addition to the 17 university laboratories that are conducting tests for the virus. The total number of laboratories able to conduct coronavirus tests in Egypt currently stands at 57.
Meanwhile, Zayed met with the representatives of pharmaceutical companies, and stressed the necessity for increasing production of drugs, especially immunomodulators, to meet the needs of citizens during the Covid-19 outbreak.
She vowed to eliminate all obstacles the companies may face in their work to increase drug production and to provide the medical sector with all its needs.
The minister said also that the ministry is providing medical equipment bags for those dealing directly with COVID-19 patients, which they can get from 5,013 medical units and centres, as well as 1,000 medical convoys.
She called on citizens not to withdraw large amounts of immunological drugs without a serious need.
