Egypt repatriates 160 stranded nationals from UAE

CAIRO – 27 May 2020: The Cairo International Airport has received an exceptional flight carrying 160 Egyptians from the United Arab Emirates, as part of Egypt’s plan to repatriate all stranded Egyptians abroad over the coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis.

The expatriated arrivals have been tested for coronavirus and were moved to be quarantined for seven days.

Since the coronavirus crisis started, EgyptAir, the Egyptian flag carrier, has operated many exceptional flights to several countries, including the US, UK, Maldives, Kuwait, South Sudan and Kenya, to bring back stranded Egyptians abroad.

On April 22nd, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi noted that around 3,500 Egyptians are stranded abroad over coronavirus, affirming that authorities are committed to bringing them back despite "hard circumstances".

This comes while Egypt has witnessed a major rise in coronavirus cases during the past period. Assistant Health Minister Mohamed Fawzy said the next period will see a peak of coronavirus infections in Egypt.

However, he said the quarantine hospitals nationwide still have vacant places for new cases and that the medical and preventive requirements are available in large quantities.

The Health Ministry said in its daily briefing on Tuesday that 789 people have tested positive for coronavirus in Egypt recently, bringing the total number of cases to 18,756.

The ministry also reported 14 deaths due to the novel virus, bringing the total number to 797.

Also, the test results of 5,606 people turned from positive to negative, the ministry said, including 5,027 people who totally recovered. It added that 127 patients left hospitals.