12 coronavirus cases confirmed on board ship in Upper Egypt

CAIRO – 6 March 2020: The Egyptian Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization announced confirming 12 positive cases of the new coronavirus (Covid-19) on board a Nile cruise ship in Upper Egypt. The 12 staff members did not show any symptoms, according to the statement.

The patients on the ship coming from Aswan to Luxor were mainly infected by an American tourist from a Taiwanese origin, the ministry spokesman said, citing a report for the World Health Organization.

Those on board the cruise ship were diagnosed by the polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in the 14th day, the ministry said, adding that 12 people tested positive for the disease.

The 12 positive cases are being transferred to the hospital designated for quarantine, the ministry spokesman said, adding that the remaining cases were quarantined for another 14 days, to monitor their health.

The Health Ministry and the World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed on Thursday the third case of coronavirus in Egypt.

The infected person is an Egyptian national who came from Serbia and transited through France for 12 hours, the ministry said in a statement, added that few days after his arrival, the 44-year-old patient headed to a hospital where he was tested positive for the virus.

On Wednesday, the World Health Organization said the two cases, before the third was detected, were dealt with in a professional way, adding that those who escorted them were examined and precautionary measures were applied to them, in accordance with the standards of the organization.

Health Minister Hala Zayed on Wednesday announced examining 1,904 suspected cases of the emerging coronavirus in Egypt, starting from last January, confirming that all of them tested negative, except for the two foreigners whose cases were earlier announced.

The first case was a foreigner, the minister said, adding that he received excellent medical care and was diagnosed by PCR under the supervision of the ministry and WHO, several times in a row. The result was negative each time and he left quarantine, the minister noted.

Concerning the second case, he was also a foreign person and was immediately quarantined in the designated hospital, Zayed said. She noted that he is receiving medical care, and his condition is stable and constantly improving. Quarantine measures have also been applied on all employees at his workplace and their assisting bodies, who numbered more than 2,500 people as a precautionary measure, she said.