Egypt extends home quarantine period for arrivals to 28 days

Egypt’s Health Ministry has decided to extend the home quarantine period for returnees from abroad to 28 days instead of 14, Ahram Online reported on Friday.

The decision also applies to returnees who have recently returned from the umrah pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia.

The ministry ordered all health directorates across the country to follow up on returnees, their families and everyone they had made contact with, and conduct the necessary isolation for them in their homes.

The ministry said on Thursday that the total numbers of coronavirus cases in the country had reached 495, including 24 fatalities.

Earlier this month, the health ministry said that a number of confirmed cases were Egyptians who had returned from the umrah pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia suspended the umrah, or lesser pilgrimage, to Mecca earlier this month over coronavirus concerns.

Egypt has suspended international flights until 31 March.