The Ministry of Health reported 727 new coronavirus (COVID-19) cases and 28 new fatalities on Saturday, raising the country’s total confirmed cases to 16,513. A total of 4,628 cases have recovered, and 735 have died.
The latest figures come as the pandemic in Egypt reached its 100th day since the first case was detected in Egypt on 14 February. Dozens of villages and hundreds of families have been quarantined, with strict nationwide measures and restrictions put into effect, in a bid to curb the virus’ spread.
Also on Saturday, the Teachers Syndicate announced the death of the fourth teacher from the coronavirus. Walim Malak, a teacher at the Abdel Moneim Wasel Preparatory School for Girls in Helwan, Cairo, died from complications of the virus.
In the meantime, the Sharqeya Medical Syndicate announced on Saturday another doctor has died from the coronavirus. Dr Abdul Latif Abdul Hamid, the Director of Health Management in the city of Hihya, died from complications of the disease.
MP Sherine Farag, the first Member of Parliament (MP) to have been diagnosed with the virus, has recovered and discharged from hospital on Friday, MENA reported.
University hospitals across the country are on high alert during the Eid Al-Fitr holiday, according to Khaled Abdul-Ghaffar, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research on Saturday.
The number of medical workers emergency units will be increased, with medical supplies and blood bags at all these hospitals also in place.
Earlier on Friday, Cairo Governor Khaled Abdel Aal said 30 hospitals in the capital will be prepared to treat coronavirus patients, in coordination with the Ministry of Health and Cairo’s Health Directorate.
The hospitals include the Abbasiya Fever Hospital, the Abbasiya Chest Hospital, Ain Shams Hospital, New Cairo Hospital, Moqattam Hospital, the Coptic Hospital, Sahel Hospital, and the Ahmed Maher and Gomhoreya Hospitals.
Last Thursday, Abdul-Ghaffar revealed that the true number of coronavirus cases in Egypt could be as much as over 71,000, based on a hypothetical model. It is predicted that the number of cases could reach 100,000 cases by the end of May under this scenario.
