Investigation into COVID-19 infection of 17 medical staff at Egypt’s Cancer Institute launched

CAIRO - 4 April 2020: Cairo University has launched an investigation into the infection of 17 doctors and nurses with COVID-19 to determine the reasons behind negligence, if they exist, and to penalize wrongdoers.

Spokesperson of Cairo University Mahmoud Alam al-Din announced in a statement released on Saturday that two “infection fighting and quality control” teams have been assigned to manage the crisis. He added that a technical committee was formed by the university’s president, Mohamed Osman al-Khosht, to review all medical protocols followed in the infection fighting and safety realms at hospitals.

The spokesperson revealed that once a case tested positive at the National Cancer Institute, the central labs at the Ministry of Health and Population were informed to carry out tests for suspected cases, and to quarantine infected ones and individuals in their surroundings.

Alam al-Din affirmed that the university decided to suspend work at the institute for one day, that is Saturday, and to limit the work of out-patient clinics to emergencies.

The spokesperson pointed out that the institute will be fully sterilized, and that it will be sterilized daily in accordance with the WHO code, and the protective measures necessitated by COVID-19 spread.

Alam al-Din said that once the sterilization is over, all preventive medical equipment will be secured, and that all medical teams, employees, and patients at the institute will be tested for coronavirus. He affirmed that medical care at the institute has not been affected by the crisis.

The spokesperson pointed out that the fact-finding committee has begun reviewing protective measures at the university’s hospitals, and the National Cancer Institute, and that it will submit a daily report, that includes recommendations, to the university’s president.

Cairo University’s president had held a meeting with the supreme committee formed to follow-up on COVID-19 prevention plan instructing to quarantine suspected cases in some rooms of French Al Qasr Al Ayny Hospital, and Al Talaba Hospital. That is in addition to assigning a medical team at each to test staff members, and send samples to the central labs of the Ministry of Health and Population.

The spokesperson stressed that the university will not give up on its students, faculty, or workers as they would be treated at affiliate hospitals. He added that employees had been urged to follow protective rules.

Alam al-Din stated that the university finalized an integrated plan on January 26, formed the supreme committee on February 1, and carried out expansive sterilization campaigns.