Egypt free from coronavirus: WHO

CAIRO - 24 January 2020: Egypt is free from the new type of coronavirus, World Health Organization representative in Egypt John Jabbour told the State-owned news agency MENA on Friday.

He affirmed that he is in contact with Minister of Helath Hala Zayed and the sector of Preventive Medicine at the ministry to follow up the situation.

The Ministry of Health declared on Wednesday a state of emergency in quarantines at all the state’s air, maritime and ground outlets as a protection against the outbreak of the new coronavirus.

The ministry added that all inbound and outbound travelers from and to the country are being inspected, noting that the hospitals nationwide have been notified of the necessary measures and treatment.

The organization also affirmed that no cases were reported in the Eastern Mediterranean Region.

No confirmed cases of the new #coronavirus (2019-nCoV) have been reported in the Eastern Mediterranean Region. @WHOEMRO is working with countries to continue strengthening preparedness activities in line with the International Health Regulations #IHR 2005. pic.twitter.com/HSbocEGZG0

— WHO EMRO (@WHOEMRO) January 23, 2020

The positive cases of the new type of virus were reported in the Chinese city of Wuhan late December 2019. Early January, the virus transmitted to Thailand. The World Health Organization (WHO) announced the outbreak of the virus after more than 40 cases were reported positive and one person died.


The new strain claimed lives of 26 people in China while more than 800 people infected with the virus, said the BBC on Friday, noting that few cases were reported in other countries including, Thailand, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, the US, Vietnam and Singapore.

However, the organization stepped back from declaring the virus outbreak in China to be “a public health emergency of international concern,” the Guardian reported.

I am not declaring the new #coronavirus outbreak a public health emergency of international concern today. The Emergency Committee was divided over whether the outbreak represents a PHEIC. This is an emergency in China, but it has not yet become a global health emergency. https://t.co/16knaV4lMZ

— Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) January 23, 2020