Egypt has passed the 100,000 mark of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) cases, as the country’s daily count of infections and deaths remains relatively stable following a decline in the past few weeks.
The Ministry of Health announced, late on Monday, that Egypt’s total confirmed cases reached 100,041, while virus-related fatalities increased to 5,541. A total of 79,008 people have recovered and been discharged from isolation hospitals.
In late August, the ministry decided to re-allocate 21 hospitals as quarantine care facilities for coronavirus cases, after most were shut down due to the continued decline in case numbers.
The reopening of quarantine facilities came as a precautionary measure, and as part of a scenario in which a possible second wave of cases and fatalities could occur. There are fears that an increase in coronavirus cases will occur during the autumn and winter seasons.
The government has warned against complacency, calling on Egyptians to remain committed to precautionary measures that aim to curb the virus. It also called on citizens to continue wearing face masks in public, and adhere to social distancing and personal hygiene to avoid a new increase in infections.
Citizens who do not commit to wearing face masks in public face a fine of EGP 300-EGP 5,000, according to a law passed in June.
In earlier statements, Dr Mohamed Awad Tag El-Din, Presidential Adviser for Health Affairs, said that“there are no new strains of the novel coronavirus in Egypt, and that the virus’ severity has decreased in the country.
The COVID-19 cases worldwide increased to 27.5 million on Monday, while the death toll reached 897,489. About 19.6 million cases have recovered so far. Egypt has ranked in 31st place worldwide, in terms of the number of its coronavirus cases.
The number of COVID-19 cases has seen a recent uptick in some Arab countries, including Morocco and Tunisia, sparking fears of a second wave. This follows a relative decline during the past few weeks.
