Tourist infected with coronavirus documents journey to quarantine

CAIRO - 8 March 2020: One of the 33 coronavirus cases reported on board of Aswan Nile cruise documented his journey to a quarantine in Egypt after he tested positive for the virus (COVID-19).

Matt Swider, the managing editor of TechRadar online, posted on his Twitter account that after he tested positive for coronavirus, he was quarantined on the cruise, assuring his followers that he was fine.

(19/many) So I’m going to skip ahead of some tweets, skip some photos and tell the world That while Egypt was breatkingly beautiful, I have been quarantined on that Nile Cruise. I feel fine. pic.twitter.com/IohCQlTLLJ

— Matt Swider (@mattswider) March 7, 2020

Later, Swider reported that he and 32 other infected persons were taken by the military plane from Luxor to a place outside Alexandria to be quarantined and receive treatment, posting a couple of photos on the plane. When he arrived to his room, Swider said that the hospital staff is very nice.

(20/many) I was told I tested negative and then there was a mistake and I’m positive for #coronavirus. Being taken from Luxor with ~32 others to a hospital outside of Alexandria via an Egyptian military plane.

This may be my last update for the foreseeable future. pic.twitter.com/V2Xo5i9npT

— Matt Swider (@mattswider) March 7, 2020

(22/many) By the way, thank you to everyone who responded while I was in the air. I was surprised and grateful it reached so many people when I landed. I feel OK. I need sleep. It’s 5:30am and I’ve been on the move since dinner time. ❤️ ❤️

— Matt Swider (@mattswider) March 8, 2020

In a press conference held at the Cabinet's headquarters on Saturday evening, Egyptian Minister of Health Hala Zayed said that 33 people, including 19 tourists, tested positive for coronavirus on board of the Nile cruise, while 11 others tested negative.

The minister added that a total of 250,000 devices to detect coronavirus will be imported and placed at all airports nationwide.

Two days ago, the Health Ministry and the World Health Organization confirmed 12 infected cases with the new virus on board the Nile cruise ship in Upper Egypt. The 12 staff members did not show any symptoms, according to the statement.

"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. "The result was negative each time and he left the quarantine," the minister noted.

"The second case was also a foreigner, who was immediately quarantined in the designated hospital," Zayed said. She added 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, including more than 2,500 people, as a precautionary measure," she said.