Egypt's Health Ministry reports 30 new coronavirus cases, 2 deaths

CAIRO - 17 March 2020: The Health Ministry said on Tuesday 30 new coronavirus cases were detected.

This upped the total number of confirmed cases to 196.

The ministry noted that two more deaths were recorded, taking the total number of deaths to six.

Health Ministry Spokesman Khaled Megahed said the two new deaths included a 78-year-old Italian national and a 70-year old Egyptian national in Cairo.

Both of them died at the isolation hospital, the spokesman said, adding that the family members of the dead Egyptians are being tested.

All positive cases were quarantined at hospitals and they are all stable.

A total of 26 cases recovered from the virus, he said.

Meanwhile, Health Minister Hala Zayed ordered tightening precautionary measures in Daqahlia, Damietta, and Menya because a large number of people there had contacts with positive cases.

The ministry has stepped up precautionary measures in these governorates and intensified campaigns to spread awareness about infectious diseases.

Megahed stressed that the ministry announced all positive and suspected cases nationwide.