Egypt calls on pilgrims returning from Saudi Arabia for self-isolation

CAIRO - 20 March 2020:Egypt's Ministry of Health called on all Egyptians returning from Saudi Arabia after performing Umrah [small pilgrimage] to isolate themselves at homes for 14 days as a preventive measure against the spread of Coronavirus (Covid-19).

The ministry Spokesperson Khaled Megahed called on everyone who has any symptoms of the virus to go directly to the nearest fever hospitals or contacting hotline 105 or 15335 to inquire about any information related to the spread of Coronavirus.

Egypt’s Ministry of Health announced on Thursday evening that 46 new coronavirus cases were confirmed, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 256, including 7 deaths so far. However, the number of recovered people reached 42 cases.



As yet the global infected cases of the virus reached 255,796 people and 10,495 deaths were reported, while the recovered cases rose to 89,918. On March 10, 2020, the virus was announced a global pandemic by the World Health Organization.

The Egyptian government is taking gradual steps in dealing with the coronavirus spread, starting from banning the study at schools and universities and suspending the international flights to the end of March. Recently, All restaurants, cafes, cafeterias, casinos, night clubs, bars, shopping centers (malls), and other local shops will shut down from 7:00 pm (Cairo time) to 6:00 pm across the nation as of Thursday until March 31.