On the occasion of the Celebration of the International Health Day on 7 April, The Egyptian Supreme Standing Committee for Human Rights (SSCHR) issued a report reviewing state s efforts to uphold the right to health, given the current health global crisis of the coronavirus outbreak. Ahram Online obtained a copy of the report, which, the organization says, comes within an unprecedented challenge due to the COVID-19 outbreak . The Technical Secretariat of the Supreme Standing Committee of Human Rights developed on the occasion of International Health Day a report on Egyptian efforts to uphold the right to health at the level of national legislation, policies and indicators. Recently the Committee issued a detailed and specialized report on national efforts to uphold human rights in its response to COVID-19. On constitutional framework to uphold the right to health, The current Egyptian constitution firmly upholds health and relevant rights. The Constitution initially provides for the right of every single citizen to health in Article 18 thereof, which is one of the lengthiest articles, as it details the citizen’s right to integrated health care in compliance with quality standards , the report said. The state, by virtue of the same articles, shall ensure preservation, support and capacity building of public health service facilities providing services to the people whilst ensuring the geographical distribution thereof. The State, also, shall allocate a percentage of no less than 3% of GDP for health, to be increased progressively. The constitution incriminates abstention from providing treatment to every human being in emergencies or life-threatening cases notwithstanding the form thereof , it added. According to Article 18, the state shall cover a host of other matters, including improving the financial situation of physicians, nurses, and paramedics as they are at the front line of defense against the disease. All health facilities, products and materials shall be subject to the state control as well as health related media. The state encourages the participation of the private and civil society sectors in providing health care , the SSCHR noted. The report also referred to the constitution s incrimination of any abuse of human physical inviolability or human organs trafficking or running any medical or scientific experiments on humans without their free documented consent as per the rules of medical science (Article 60). The SSCHR refered to a number of Egyptian constituion articles regulating the right to health as follows: - The Egyptian constitution addresses donation of tissues and organs and provides that the state should regulate the rules of organ donations and transplantation (Article 61). - The Constitution ensures the citizens’ right to adequate, safe and healthy housing (Article 78) as well as the right to healthy adequate food and clean water (Article 79). The Constitution enumerates health rights for children including compulsory free immunization, health care and staple nutrition, as well as the rights of children with disabilities to ensure their rehabilitation (Article 80). The State shall, by constitution, ensure the health rights of persons with disabilities and pygmies (Article 81), and to ensure the health rights of senior citizens (Article 8). As for upholding the right to health within Egypt Vision 2030: Health policies acquire special significance in strategic planning as expressed in Egypt Vision 2030 which provides for a number of targets in relation to upholding the right to health as , the report said, citing these targets as follows: Achieving better, fairer and more equitable health results to boost welfare and economic development. Achieving comprehensive health coverage for all Egyptians to secure their needs of safe quality health services as and when needed less the financial burden. Increasing investment in health while guaranteeing the optimization of available resources. Developing and bolstering public health programmes that enhance and protect health. Ensuring quality and safety of health services. Improving the health sector governance to guarantee the effective, responsible and transparent management thereof at all levels. Egypt Vision 2030 provides for a number of key performance indicators including: extension of life expectancy until seventy nine years of age; reduction of infant and under-5 mortality rates by 50%; reduction of maternity mortality rate by 60%; narrowing the remarkable gap in health results; ending all forms of malnutrition; reduction of the financial burden emanating from out-of-pocket expenditure by 24%; satisfaction of the fair and equitable accessibility by all citizens to necessary health interventions to 80%; ensuring the availability of basic medicines, and medical equipment; and boosting governmental spending on health to 5% of GDP , the report said. On Comprehensive Health Insuranceو Egypt has made remarkable strides by promulgating the comprehensive Health Insurance Law (Law 2/2018) which covers mandatory insurance of all citizens residing in the country, with the option of extending the same to cover Egyptian expats , it added. The law obligates the State to provide services of (public health, preventive services, first aid and ambulance services, family planning and other health services necessary to cover all kinds of disasters and epidemics for free as well as occupational injuries). The law shall be gradually applied to all governorates to ensure fiscal sustainability and actuarial balance. The State shall, by virtue of the law, boost the efficiency of state-owned health facilities gradually before rolling out the system. The philosophy of the new comprehensive Health Insurance system resides in the principle of mandatory coverage and social solidarity whereby the state covers the costs for the less-privileged. The system is based on the separation of finance from service provision. The General Authority for comprehensive Health Insurance is in charge of the system management and finance, whereas the Authority of Health Care provides health and curative care services within and without hospitals. The comprehensive Health Insurance Law shall be applied on 6 phases until 2023. The first phase covers (Port Said, Suez, South Sinai, Ismailia, Luxor and Aswan) with the cost of EGP1.8 billion. This is the current phase launched by HE President Abdul Fattah Al-Sisi on November 26th, 2019 in Port Said Governorate as a step to lay the foundations for integrated health system covering 100% of Egyptians as per the latest international criteria. The number of beneficiaries of the first phase until March 17th, 2020 reached 2,700,000 , the report noted. On Public Spending on Health, the State budget for the fiscal year 2019/2020 shows that health expenditures total EGP 73,062 billion with an increase of EGP 11 billion compared to the last fiscal year. The report said that health spending covers hospitals and outpatient clinics, specialized hospital services, medical centres services, maternity centres, public health services, research and development in health affairs, public hospitals, university hospitals, the General Authority for Hospitals and Educational Institutes, the Pharmaceutical Control and Research Authority, the Ophthalmology Research Institute and the National Council for Addiction Control. As for treatment at the state expense, the public spending on treating less-privileged citizens at the expense of the state reached EGP 6,622 million compared to EGP5,637 million as per the balance sheet of last year with an increase of EGP985 million. The foregoing figures show that the State has doubled its expenses compared to five years ago. On Allocations for purchasing medicine and medical equipment: The allocations made during fiscal year 2019/2020 reached EGP 9,113 million, representing 12% of the budget for the purchase of goods and services , the report mentioned. Regarding the subsidization of children medicine and milk: The allocations for these items amount to EGP 1,500 million. This subsidization is the amount of cost difference borne by the state resulting from the importation and sale of insulin, children’s milk and potassium iodides for prices less than the economic cost thereof. On Health Insurance Subsidy, an amount of EGP 2,092,000,000isearmarked for health insurance programmes for the various categories as per the financial statement of the state budget for the fiscal year 2019/2020. The subsidy amount shall be distributed over 6 programmes as follows: Health insurance subsidy for students in the amount of EGP 351,000,000 allocated in the budget for 23,400,000 students, in the annual amount of EGP15 per student. Health insurance subsidy for single mothers in the amount of EGP 166,000,000 for 830,000 single mothers, in the amount of EGP 200 per single mother. Health insurance subsidy for children below school age in the amount of EGP 227,000,000 covering 15,170,000 children, in the amount of EGP 15 annually per child. Health insurance subsidy for less-privileged citizens (comprehensive Health Insurance system) in the amount of EGP 252,000,000. Health insurance subsidy for less-privileged beneficiaries of social insurance pension in the amount of one billion Egyptian pounds. Health insurance subsidy for farmers in the amount of EGP 100,000,000 covering 500,000 individuals in the amount of EGP 200 annually per capita. On National Health Indicators, the report mentioned the state efforts as follows: The number of state-owned hospitals increased from 643 in 2011 to 691 in 2018. Meanwhile the number of private hospitals increased from 926 in 2011 to 1157 in 2018. This increase is nationwide to ensure access by all citizens to health care. The number of insured citizens increased from 50,194,000 in 2014 to 55,581,000 in 2018. The number of patients treated at the state expense: The number of patients treated at the state expense domestically and abroad increased to 2,632,000 in 2018 with a cost of EGP 8.4 billion. Certain measures are taken to ensure speedy curative service provision at the state expense thus shrinking the period lapsing between application and decision issuance to 48 hours in cases of emergency and 72 hours for other cases. Number of ambulances: The number of ambulances increased in 2018 to 2912 and the number of emergency centers increased to 1464. The number of university hospitals increased by 2.3% in 2018 compared to 2017 by 89 hospitals. Physicians numbers increased in 2018 to become 126,197, whereas the number of nurses reached 217,105. Blood transfusion services are developed to reach 24 centres in all governorates. The foregoing assets and resources are deployed nationwide to ensure inclusive service provision covering, inter alia, rural and urban areas, males and females, and low-income brackets. Mandatory routine vaccination: 2.6 million children receive mandatory routine vaccines annually with coverage exceeding 96%. Egypt managed to eradicate certain diseases as the WHO announced Egypt’s success in completely eradicating polio as no new cases have been detected since 2003. 40 million vaccinations are administered annually against polio, rubella and mumps. A program was developed to support natural breast feeding during the first six months to ensure safe nutrition for infants. A mandatory test is run for would-be spouses to ensure the absence of any diseases. Would-be spouse test offices totaled 481 nationwide in 2018. Reduction in under-5 mortality rate: Intensive governmental efforts led to a decrease in child mortality rate under age 5 from 42.1 thousand in 2015 to 36.7 thousand in 2018. The number of under 5 mortalities decreased from 20.3 thousand in 2015 to 20 thousand in 2018. Universal mortality rate fell from 8.6% in 2006 to 3.2% in 2018. Health education: Within the context of health awareness and education, outreach initiatives are developed to educate people on pregnancy and follow-up with specialized doctors. Eventually, the number of births supervised by skilled specialists increased from 80.7% in 2007 to 92.7% in 2011. A health education campaign was launched targeting medical cadres, local leaders, and the populace especially in areas with high rates of endemic diseases. The civil society is active in the area of health outreach. The number of notarized NGOs in 2019 reached 211 in Greater Cairo. The National Campaign for the Eradication of Hepatitis C Virus and Early Detection of Non-Communicable Diseases: In September 2018 President Al-Sisi launched an initiative to eradicate Hepatitis C and early detection of non-communicable diseases under the slogan “100 million health”. Under this initiative all state sectors, spearheaded by the Ministry of Health and Population, should provide full support to that initiative for the early detection of Hepatitis C and non-communicable diseases. The initiative was administered on three successive phases for 7 months starting October 1st, 2018 until end of April 2019 nationwide in all twenty seven governorates. 56 million citizens were tested in the context of that initiative, detecting 2,200,000 positive cases. Hepatitis C treatment was disbursed to 900,000 citizens. The total cost of the 100 million health initiative reached USD 260,000,000, 130,000,000 treatments and 130,000,000 tests. The WHO, and its representative in Egypt, has repeatedly commended the efforts of the Egyptian state in addressing Hepatitis C thanks to political commitment at the highest level in the state to control the disease. The WHO also stressed that it will continue to provide the support necessary to reach the desired goals. Screening and Treating Refugees and Foreigners “Egypt’s Guests”: Egypt launched a new phase officially on May 1st, 2019 until September 30th, 2019 in the context of the 100 Million Health Initiative (however the same was actually extended until August 31st, 2019). The new phase screens and treats foreigners and refugees from Hepatitis C. This presidential initiative targets screening children arrivals under 12 years until 18 years and adults over 18 years old. Screening is administered in 309 screening points nationwide. 67,498 refugees and foreign residents were examined and positive cases were treated gratuitously. The first refugee who tested positive for hepatitis C received free treatment one week after test commencement. Almost 182 positive cases received free treatment after the first incident. In this context, the UN High Commission for Refugees and the WHO commended the new phase of the 100 Million Health Initiative covering all foreign residents in Egypt, which speaks to the leading role of Egypt in serving humanity. Egyptian Women are the Health of Egypt Initiative for early detection of breast cancer: 115,000 women were tested until July 2019. The initiative targets 30 million women. 100 Million Health Initiative for early detection of anemia, stunting, obesity and malnutrition of school students which targets 11.5 million students in 22,000 schools. Control of Harmful Traditional Practices (including FGM): The National Committee Against FGM is established in 2019 and is co-headed by the National Council for Women and the National Council for Motherhood and Childhood to synergize efforts to eradicate FGM. The State has, in collaboration with the civil society, launched several initiatives including the initiatives of “White Coat” and “Let’s Protect Her” to educate on the gravity of FGM and its health adverse effects. Law 78/2016 was enacted to amend the Penal Code whereby FGM is considered felony and even attempted FGM is punishable, and no reconciliation or settlement may be reached in this case in particular. In case the FGM process is completed and causes the death or permanent disability of the victim penalty shall be aggravated. The National Strategy Against FGM (2016-2020) aims to decrease FGM rates by enforcing relevant laws and ministerial decisions to prevent the same and punish practitioners. The strategy also aims to enforce relevant legislation and educate society on the risks involved in FGM and that it is religiously groundless, in addition to tightening control and aggravating penalty for doctors who engage in FGM. Control of Drugs, Psychotropics, smoking and harmful material: A Fund is established for the treatment and control of addiction and drug-use pursuant to thePresidential Decision 46/1991. The Fund made several initiatives for education on risks of substance abuseand the social integration of cured cases such as “Life is Rosier without Smoking” to educate children on the adverse effects of smoking and “Don’t Try” Initiative to educate summer vacationists and beach-goers in coastal governorates on the gravity of addiction; as well as “Egypt free of addiction” Initiative to help addicts get rid of substance abuse impacts as well as “Listen to Me” Initiative raising awareness about the harmful effects of smoking and substance-use and to rectify misconceptions about substance abuse. In this context awareness raising programmes are developed on the dangers of substance abuse in 8500 schools targeting 1.5 million students with a 50% increase compared to last year. 66 training camps are provided for students targeting 2500 volunteers. Outreach is developed for factory workers under the slogan “Make no Mistake” targeting 7500 workers. Moreover, 200 awareness initiatives are organized for drivers under the slogan “Have a safe trip” in 22 governorates for 20,000 drivers, whereby it becomes obligatory for drivers to take the drug tests as a sine-quo-none for license issuance and renewal. 34 workshops are held at corrective institutions and 60 preventive theatre shows are presented in most vulnerable locations such as “Al-Asmarat, GheitelEnab, and Al-Mahrousa” and in main squares and arenas. The Friday mass service speech is standardized in coordination with the Ministry of Awqaf to educate people on the dangers of drugs in addition to the information campaign “You are stronger than drugs” which reached 40,000,000 views in two months.

A number of Egyptian businessmen have submitted to the finance ministry several proposals on how to lessen the negative impact of the coronavirus outbreak on the economy, Finance Minister Mohamed Maait said. Maait said in a statement on Monday that the proposals are under consideration, adding that some of these proposals would require legislative amendments, and so the ministry will submit them to the Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly. The proposals were made during a video conference between Maait and a number of Egyptian businessmen, including the chairman of the Federation of Egyptian Industries and the head of the Egyptian Businessmen s Association. The proposals include postponing tax return submissions for enterprises by two months and suspending real estate taxes for factories, Maait said, adding that the ministry has already prepared a number of amendments to the real estate tax law, which are now being discussed in parliament. Maait also exempted export companies from providing the tax position certificate required for the disbursal of their dues from government bodies and the Export Development Fund until June, and exporters dues will be disbursed over three tranches of up to EGP 5 million.

Egyptians have spent less time in shopping, recreation and transportation in March 2020 because of the coronavirus outbreak, adopting social distancing guidelines, according to Google’s COVID-19 Mobility Changes report. Google released late March its special coronavirus report showing how people around the globe responded to the coronavirus outbreak based on statistics from Google Maps around the globe. According to figures released by Google, Egyptians spent 50 percent less time in places like malls and restaurants in March than in February. Egyptians spent also 52 percent less time in transit stations like metro stations, bus stations and train stations in March than in February. In mid-March, the Egyptian government imposed a partial curfew from 7pm to 6am. It also closed public parks and museums as well as other recreational sites where the public gathered. Egyptians spent 35 percent less time in their work in March compared to February, while they spent 25 percent less time in groceries in March than in February. They also spent 40 percent less time in parks in March than in February. Google stated that Egyptians spent 15 percent more time in their homes in March than in February. According to the latest numbers released by the Egypt’s Ministry of Health, total coronavirus cases in the country has reached 1,070, including 71 dead.

The number of coronavirus cases in Egypt has increased to 850 on Thursday; however, the daily increase rate is “not alarming,” Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly said in a televised statement. Compared to the Egyptian population of 100 million people, the number of cases is not high, and Egypt is still in the middle phase of the outbreak and has not reached the dangerous, third phase, Madbouly said. The average daily infection rate was between 30 and 40 cases last week, and this week it has been between 50 and 60, the prime minister said. It is expected that it will range from 60 to 70 cases a day next week. According to the prime minister, these rates are not alarming as Egypt is still seeing a natural gradual curve in the spread of the virus. “What [would be] alarming [would be] the registration of hundreds of cases daily. We do not want to reach this stage,” Madbouly said. The prime minister urged people not to underestimate the situation and to commit to the precautionary measures in place. Madbouly also said that the capabilities of the health ministry exceeds the requirements of the current number of cases. The health ministry has been coordinating its efforts with university hospitals and making a plan to start integrating some of them to help in the fight against the coronavirus. The aim of the government, according to Madbouly, is to have a comprehensive health system that encompasses all governorates and provides needed medical services to Egyptian citizens. The government is looking into providing workplaces like factories and construction sites, among others, with up to 1,000 vehicles that can function as clinics, in an initiative from Health Minister Hala Zayed, the prime minister said. Mobile clinics can provide workers with necessary medical services and help in taking the necessary rapid measures if any coronavirus cases are detected. Madbouly also addressed the efforts exerted by the state to repatriate Egyptians stranded abroad by flight suspensions. The premier said that there the government will temporarily stop returning citizens from abroad after already expatriating those who were stranded. “A stranded person is someone who had to leave Egypt either for a work mission, training course, for medical treatment or for tourism,” the prime minister said. “These are the kinds of people who are considered stuck, as they don t have residence in the country they are in and they have to return to Egypt,” he added. Madbouly said that, at first, the government performed medical check-ups and tests on returnees at airports and asked them to self-isolate for 14 days. The government discovered, however, that many people have not been committing to self-isolation, and that led to an outbreak in some areas. Since people were not committed, the government has decided to put returnees from abroad in compulsory quarantine in hotels at state expense.

Misr Spinning and Weaving Company in the Nile Delta city of Al-Mahalla resumed operations on Wednesday with reduced workforce, after a 10-day hiatus over coronavirus fears, a circular by the company said. The company, Egypt’s largest textile factory, had put its staff on furlough from March 23 and asked them to go on self-isolation at home after the detection of some coronavirus cases in the city. In a circular dated Tuesday, the state company said work will resume with morning shifts only until mid-April. Workers with chronic diseases, those residing in other govenorates and pregnant women are also furloughed. All cafeterias at the company were ordered to close and all offices and restrooms are to be sanitized. Established in 1927, the Misr Spinning and Weaving Company, is the largest in Africa and the Middle East with over 16,500 workers, the company’s website said. It is affiliated to the Holding Company for Spinning and Weaving, which belongs to the Ministry of Public Business Sector. While resuming work, the company is granting exceptional paid leave to workers from the Al-Hayatem village, where several coronavirus cases have been detected and hundreds have been isolated. The company s Chairman Ashraf Ezzat called on the workers to exercise caution in all their daily dealings in order to avoid infection with the coronavirus, the circular said. Egypt has registerd a total of 710 coronavirus cases and 46 deaths.

The Egyptian Medical Syndicate has said a newly announced rise in monthly allowances granted to doctors and other medical staff is insufficient. Earlier this week, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi ordered a 75% increase in monthly allowances given to medical professionals at a total cost of EGP 2.25 billion, as part of government efforts to support members of the healthcare sector amid the coronavirus crisis. Under a 2014 law issued under El-Sisi, a monthly allowance of between EGP 400 ($25.5) and 700 ($44.5) is offered to physicians, dentists, pharmacists, veterinarians, physiotherapists, nursing staff, chemists, physicists, and medical technicians. This new rise means the allowance will now range between EGP 700 and 1,225: EGP 1,225 for physicians, EGP 875 for dentists, pharmacists, veterinarians and physiotherapists, EGP 787 for nursing staff, chemists and physicists, and EGP 700 for medical technicians. “The value of the monthly increase (after deductions) will be only about 400 Egyptian pounds, which is not commensurate with the efforts and sacrifices made by doctors, unless these increases are part of several forthcoming measures to improve doctors’ conditions,” the syndicate said in a statement on Monday. An estimated 60,000 Egyptians doctors work at the health ministry’s institutions, with salaries ranging from EGP 3,000 ($190) to 10,000 ($635), according to health ministry officials. El-Sisi has also ordered the creation of a risk fund for medical staff, a move welcomed by the union which suggested allocating part of the money for “disaster damages” and another for "supplemental" pensions for all doctors. He also ordered an exceptional bonus be awarded to all staff working at coronavirus isolation hospitals and other hospitals and central laboratories conducting tests for the deadly virus. Egypt has recorded 656 coronavirus cases, including 41 fatalities since the first case was registered in mid-February. The syndicate also called on the president to urge the parliament to issue a law for "fair" infection compensation that is in line with “the hazard doctors are exposed to”, a long-standing demand by Egyptian physicians. Since 1995, medical staff in Egypt have been receiving a meagre EGP 19 to EGP 30 in monthly infectious disease allowance, according to the Doctors Syndicate. Ehab Taher, a syndicate board member, told Ahram Online that a draft law to increase the infection allowance had been sent to the parliament over two years ago but it has yet to take any action. He says the law has not even been discussed by the parliament’s health committee. "All we need to is to raise the compensation to a minimum EGP 1500-3000 based on the level of infection exposure of every medical profession," he said. The syndicate also called on the parliament to pass a law on medical liability and hospital protection law. “Doctors are committed to performing their duty in all cases for nothing in return during these critical conditions the country is going through and will continue to…sacrifice to ward off the epidemic,” the syndicate said.

Egypt reported on Monday 47 new coronavirus cases and one more death, said health minister Hala Zayed. The total number of confirmed cases now stands at 656, with the total death toll rising to 41. So far 132 cases have fully recovered and left isolation hospitals, Zayed said during a meeting with Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly. She added that the total number of cases whose test results have turned from positive to negative has reached 182. Zayed stated there are currently 26 laboratories across governorates to conduct PCR tests, and that there will be more in the next 48 hours. Zayed briefed Madbouly on the geographical distribution of the cases, and on the tracking and investigation work of the ministry s teams. They also discussed the availability of various medical supplies at the ministry s hospitals. Egypt s health ministry spokesperson Khaled Meghad said on Saturday that some villages have been isolated in 10 governorates in a bid to stop any possible spread of coronavirus. Zayed said on Friday that Egypt has a sufficient number of IC beds and ventilators and is being supplied with more. She told MBC Masr satellite channel over the phone that Egypt has a purchase plan to make protective gear available despite the global shortage. Egypt has already halted international flights, banned mass gatherings, shuttered cinemas, mosques and churches, and suspended communal prayers in an effort to slow the spread of the virus that claimed the lives of thousands of people around the world. A nationwide curfew is also in effect daily from 7 pm to 6 am until 7 April.

Egypt s health ministry spokesperson Khaled Meghad revealed Saturday that some villages have been isolated in 10 governorates in a bid to stop any possible spread of coronavirus. In a telephone call Saturday evening to news night talk show “My responsibility” on Sada El-Balad TV channel, Meghad told TV host Ahmed Moussa that the isolation of those villages was a precautionary measure. “The Ministry of Health isolates the villages after discovering coronavirus cases there, so [the villages] won t turn into a virus epicentre and spread it to other villages in the area, or the rest of the governorates,” he said. Meghad explained the isolation of villages included the closure of all roads leading to the village as well as banning any sort of interaction between villagers and outsiders for 14 days to stop any spread of Covid-19. “This procedure was followed in several governorates and achieved very positive results,” he said, adding that the 10 governorates include Red Sea, Al-Minya, Mounfia and Port Said. On Saturday, Egypt s health ministry announced that the total number of coronavirus patients jumped in to 576 after it registered officially 40 new Covid-19 cases in the country with 121 fully recovered patients and 36 fatalities.

Saudi Arabia will extend visas for Egyptian nationals stranded in the kingdom due to a suspension of flights to and from both countries amid the coronavirus outbreak, Egypt s foreign ministry said. Visas for visitors will be extended online for the same duration originally granted, the ministry said in a statement Wednesday. Umra pilgrims whose visas expired will also be allowed to apply for an extension, by 28 March, to be exempted from fines or any ensuing legal effects, it added. Earlier, the Gulf country notified visitors of all nationalities whose visas were about to expire that they can extend their stay online for up to 180 days, after paying certain fees. Egypt has 456 confirmed coronavirus cases and 21 deaths, while the Gulf kingdom registered 900 infections and two deaths.

The vast majority of coronavirus cases detected in Egypt were in direct contact with affected people, Egypt s health ministry spokesman said. “More than 90 percent of the newly discovered coronavirus cases in Egypt had come into contact with previously detected cases,” Khaled Megahed said in TV comments late Tuesday, stressing that exercising caution and avoiding gatherings and social interaction is key to combating the spread of the virus. Megahed s comments to a talk show on Sada El-Balad TV Channel came after the Egyptian government declared a nighttime curfew from 7pm to 6am for two weeks starting Wednesday, as part of broad measures to curb the deadly virus. Egypt has 402 confirmed coronavirus cases in 24 of the country s 27 governorates, including 20 fatalities, according to the health ministry. Of the total, 80 people have so far recovered. Megahed said Egypt is currently working on increasing the number of hospitals earmarked for coronavirus patients. The country currently has five isolation hospitalsn in Marsa Matrouh, Luxor, Ismailia, Alexandria and Daqahliya. "We are currently working on preparing more hospitals equipped with intensive care equipment and medical teams to be used when needed," Megahed said. Separately, Megahed was quoted in local media as saying that five additional hospitals have been earmarked for coronavirus cases, including two in Cairo s Agouza and 15th of May districts. Hospitals across the country are equipped with the supplies and facilities necessary for tackling the outbreak, the spokesman said. “We lacked some equipment at the beginning, but we have recently signed supply orders to cover our needs," he said. Egypt has taken a raft of measures to curb the spread of the respiratory disease, including suspending international flights, shutting down schools, universities, mosques and churches, halting all entertainment activities, and reducing the number of government employees going to work.

Egypt s President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi has instructed the government to take additional precautionary measure to stem the spread of the coronavirus in the country. The president said in a tweet that he has tasked the government with implementing additional precautionary measures to ensure the safety of Egyptians without affecting their necessary daily needs. President El-Sisi emphasised that he has confidence that the Egyptian people will respond to these measures in a manner that preserves the country s security and safety. Egypt has been implementing increasingly strict measures to curb the spread of the coronavirus in the country, including suspending air traffic, reducing the number of public sector employees working at state institutions, and shutting schools, universities, mosques and churches. Egypt has so far registered 366 coronavirus cases, including 19 fatalities.

Egypt’s President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi lauded on Monday the Chinese success in containing coronavirus in a telephone call with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday afternoon, the Egyptian presidency said. El-Sisi expressed to Xi his aspiration to boost cooperation between the health establishments of the two countries to benefit from the Chinese mechanism to manage the coronavirus crisis. The Chinese president expressed his people and government’s gratitude for Egypt’s quick aid to the country during the crisis. He asserted that China was fully ready to present its experience and capabilities to combat the virus. The Egyptian presidency added that the two leaders agreed to boost strategic cooperation between the two countries especially when it comes to the localisation of Chinese technology.

Egypt is still in the second phase of the coronavirus outbreak, health ministry spokesman Khaled Meghaded said, adding that country is working to prevent entering the third stage of the pandemic. In comments to a late-night TV talk show on MBC Masr channel on Saturday, Megahed said the second level of the virus’ spread means the country is still able to track the number and source of infections, naming the current phase the “cluster of cases.” The third stage of the outbreak is characterised by the inability to detect the source of the virus or to track its spread. Megahed called this the “community transmission” phase. “We have not entered this [third] stage yet; we are still able to track the virus,” the spokesman said. The health ministry has identified three stages of the coronavirus outbreak. The pre-epidemic phase when virus cases are detected, the disease spread phase when the source of infections is identified and the third is the community transmission phase. Egypt has so far registered 294 coronavirus cases, including 10 deaths. Egypt has introduced a series of sweeping measure to contain the spread of the virus, including suspending air traffic, closing schools and universities and shutting malls and cafes overnight. The country also announced on Saturday that it is shutting all mosques and churches.

Egypt s President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi received a phone call on Thursday from German Chancellor Angela Markel to discuss the latest development of international efforts to curb the spread of the coronavirus, as well as other regional issues including the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam and the situation in Libya. The Egyptian president expressed the solidarity of the Egyptian government and people with the friendly people of Germany in such circumstances, affirming Egypt s keenness to exchange expertise and enhance cooperation between healthcare facilities in both countries within the international framework of combating the spread of the coronavirus. Germany has recorded more than 12,000 coronavirus infections, with the latest 3,000 cases registered in the past 24 hours, and 43 deaths. Egypt has confirmed six virus deaths out of a total 210 infections recorded until Thursday. "The German chancellor showed appreciation for Egypt s support for Germany, which reflects the strength of ties between both countries, noting the importance of enhancing joint cooperation between Egyptian and German authorities within the international efforts to combat the spread of the coronavirus", Egypt s Presidential Spokesperson Bassam Rady said. The two leaders also exchanged points of view on regional files of mutual concerns, including the current situation in Libya in light of the outcome of the Berlin Conference. "El-Sisi and Merkel also discussed the latest developments in the GERD file within the outcome of the recent Washington talks and Egypt s signing of the agreement in Washington in February," the spokesperson added. Addis Ababa did not attend the last round of US-sponsored talks on the dam in February, citing the need for more time for further domestic consultations. Only Egypt has initialed the resulting agreement, drafted by the US, on the filling and operation of the dam, with Ethiopia and Sudan both declining to sign it. Over the past weeks, Egyptian officials have delivered messages on developments related to the GERD to Gulf and European partners, including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, France and the European Union, in an attempt to seek support.

Egypt s health ministry will open 13 new laboratories across governorates on Thursday to conduct tests for the novel coronavirus, a health ministry official said. The number of labs are expected to be increased later, Nancy El-Gendy, Head of the ministry s Central Department of Laboratories said in TV comments late on Tuesday. "All citizens can head to fever hospitals to be checked...and they will be then referred to the central laboratories once they show any symptoms," she said in comments to state TV. The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test for the coronavirus costs 1,000 Egyptian pound ($ 63.5), but patients referred from fever hospitals can do the test free of charge, El-Gendy said. Ministry staff members are currently being trained to use new corona detection kits and medical equipment Egypt has imported as part of efforts to stem the spread of the virus, she said. Egypt has 196 confirmed coronavirus cases and six deaths, including three foreigners. The country has imposed a series of sweeping measures to curb the spread of the global pandemic, including the suspension of international flights to and from the country, which will begin on Thursday and last until the end of the month. The country has also closed schools and universities, halted all sporting events, imposed restrictions on the duration of prayers, and said it will reduce the number of public sector employees who need to go into work.

Ethiopia demands "serious and fair" talks in order to return to the negotiating table with Egypt and Sudan over its giant dam project on the River Nile, Ethiopian Foreign Minister Gedu Andargachew said. In an interview with China Global Television Network CGTN, Gedu said resolving the dispute over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD requires a "strong political will" from the Egyptian side. Tensions between Ethiopia and Egypt over the $4.8 billion dam were building up after Addis Ababa did not attend the latest round of US-sponsored talks held in Washington in late February, which were expected to generate a final deal. It cited the need for more time for further domestic consultations. Only Egypt initialed an agreement crafted by the US over the filling and operation of the dam, while Ethiopia and Sudan did not. Ethiopia said it plans to commence filling the dam s reservoir in July, though outstanding issues over the filling and operation of the dam remain unsolved. "The solution for disagreement again is negotiations. We demand serious and fair talks to take place for us to return to the table once again. The only chance we have is to agree on this. For this, strong political will from the Egyptian side is needed," Gedu said in the interview, a clip of which was published by the foreign ministry on Monday. Following Ethiopia s absence from the Washington talks, Egypt accused it of deliberately not attending to "hinder the path of negotiations". Ethiopia hopes the mega project, which is now around 71% complete, will make it Africa s biggest power exporter. But Cairo fears the project will restrict supplies of the Nile waters, on which it is almost entirely dependent. Gedu said the mega project is key to his country s efforts to eliminate poverty and overcome its acute shortage of electricity. "In Ethiopia, more than 65 million citizens live without electricity and the investors we are inviting to help us defeat poverty are suffering from insufficient power supply, preventing industries from bearing fruit, and hundreds of factories are affected by this," Gedu said. "Every year, hundreds of thousands of Ethiopians graduate from high schools and universities, its mandatory to create jobs for these young people," he said. "The key for [resolving] all these problems is found in the completion of Renaissance Dam project." Gedu emphasized that Ethiopia, nevertheless, never sought to solely benefit from the Nile water. "Though the source of most of the Nile water can be located in Ethiopia and even with over 85 percent of the water contributed by Ethiopia, Ethiopia not a single day said we have to benefit from this water alone," he said. "The water of the Nile belongs to Ethiopians, Egyptians, Sudanese and people of other Nile basin countries." "We give full recognition for the right of basin nations to use the water and we properly understand our right of using the Nile water responsibly," Gedu said. Gedu has slammed the Arab League s push to resolve the row with Egypt over the dam as "unacceptable", after the pan-Arab bloc earlier this month adopted a draft resolution supporting Egypt s stance on the dispute. Sudan insisted its name be removed from the resolution, saying it "does not serve the spirit of dialogue and negotiations", drawing Cairo s criticism which said Sudan sought to "weaken the effect of the resolution." "The [Arab] League s intervention and promotion of conflict on a matter that is not even concluded yet between the three countries is unacceptable", the Ethiopian minister said. The bloc had a chance to use this situation to strengthen ties between the Horn of Africa and the Middle East, he said "We believe the Arab League can still positively impact the differences between Ethiopia and Egypt. The Arab league should have a role to promote solidarity among countries in the Eastern African region and the Middle East based on mutual cooperation."

Egypt will suspend international flights to and from the country from 19 till 31 March at all airports nationwide to stem the spread of the coronavirus, Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly announced on Monday. "The decisions taken by the government to fight the virus has economic repercussions, but the state’s priority is to protect citizens," PM Madbouly said in a press conference held at the cabinet in Cairo. Madbouly also said that recent flight suspensions have resulted in financial losses for Egyptian airlines exceeding EGP 2.25 billion. The PM added that all hotels and tourist attractions in the country will be sterilised over the next two weeks. More to follow

Egypt has registered 17 new cases of coronavirus, bringing the total of number of cases detected in the country to 110, the health ministry said in a statement. The new cases reported are 14 Egyptians and three foreigners, the ministry said. Two of the Egyptians had returned from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, while the rest had come into contact with previously diagnosed carriers. Out of the 110 cases, 21 have recovered and were released from a quarantine hospital, and 33 tested negative for the virus in two separate PCR tests performed over 48 hours, the ministry said in a statement on Saturday. Egypt has recorded two deaths from the coronavirus, a German tourist and a 60-year-old Egyptian woman. With the rise in the number of cases, Egypt said on Saturday that it is closing schools and universities for two weeks to prevent the spread of the virus. The presidency said that the move aims to "deal with any possible repercussions" from the virus. Since it emerged in the central Chinese city of Wuhan late last year, coronavirus (COVID-19) has infected more than 157,000 people globally and killed more than 5,800.

Egypt’s Ministry of Health announced on Thursday that a coronavirus patient has passed away and that 13 new coronavirus cases have been discovered in the country. According to a statement by the health ministry, the patient who passed away was an Egyptian woman in the city of Mansura, Daqahliya governorate. This is the second death caused by coronavirus in Egypt. The first death was of a German tourist.

Egypt s Ministry of Transport said in a statement Tuesday that it has been distributing medical face masks to workers and passengers at Cairo metro stations at peak times and in busy stations, and to passengers on busy train lines, as a precautionary measure to prevent the spread of coronavirus. The Egyptian Company for Metro Management and Operation announced that it has been distributing face masks to passengers on the metro s three lines at peak hours. According to the statement, the company has been distributing masks in station halls, at ticket offices, on platforms and inside trains. The statement added that the metro company will continue to sterilise metro trains and stations during and after daily operation hours. The metro company added that it has installed posters approved by the Ministry of Health in all metro stations about the symptoms of coronavirus and how to prevent infection. The metro company also broadcast through station internal broadcasting facilities the dos and don ts for virus protection.