Egypt records 752 new coronavirus cases on Sunday

Egypt reported on Sunday 752 new coronavirus cases, bringing the total number of infections to 17265, the health ministry said on Sunday.

The ministry also reported 29 fatalities, bringing the total number of deaths to 764, Ahram online reported.

The health ministry added that 179 patients have fully recovered and were discharged from isolation hospitals and quarantine facilities. The total number of recoveries from the highly contagious virus now stands at 4807.

The number of patients whose PCR test results have turned from positive to negative, including complete recoveries, has now reached 5366, ministry spokesman Khaled Megahed said.

The new cases were detected through the ministry’s investigation and contact tracing protocols, he added.

Egypt announced last week stricter measures to be applied during the Eid Al-Fitr holiday, which started on Sunday, to stem the spread of coronavirus.

A nationwide curfew begins at 5 pm, instead of the previous 9 pm, from Sunday until Friday.

Throughout the six-day period, till 29 May, all shops, malls, beaches and parks will be completely shut, and travel between governorates will be suspended.

Madbouly said the curfew extension comes under measures to curtail the spread of the virus during Eid Al-Fitr, which he said could pose a risk of a surge in infections due to the tradition of gatherings during the festive holiday.