Egypt’s Health Min. reviews future plan to coexist with coronavirus

25% of the announced coronavirus (COVID-19) deaths died before reaching quarantine hospitals, as they arrived at hospitals too late.

CAIRO – 29 April 2020: Egypt’s Health Minister Hala Zayed reviewed the ministry’s plan to fulfill the state’s strategy based on coexistence with the novel virus in the coming period, as the end of the crisis is not yet in sight.

In a meeting with Prime Minister Mustafa Madbouli via video conferencing, the minister noted that the plan is based on following all necessary in various facilities and reassessing the epidemiological situation every 14 days. She affirmed the need for state institutions to set immediate penalties for violators of these measures.

Companies, malls, markets and transportation means will be included in the plan, Zayed said, while affirming that some places that pose a high risk of infection must remain closed. Services in these places should be reached via electronic ways as much as possible, she added.

The minister also referred to some additional public safety procedures in case institutions were opened, including checking the temperature of those entering them, allocating a room inside each institution to isolate any coronavirus suspected cases.

The plan also recommends reducing workers per shift, keeping institutions well-ventilated and reducing the use of air-conditioners whenever possible.

Concerning the current situation, especially amid the increasing number of fatalities in the northeastern African country, Zayed said 25% of the announced coronavirus deaths died before reaching quarantine hospitals, as they arrived at hospitals too late.

She said there are currently 17 quarantine hospitals nationwide housing 3,214 beds, 525 intensive care beds and 413 ventilators.

Egypt recorded, Tuesday new 260 coronavirus, COVID-19 cases and 22 deaths, raising the total number of infections in Egypt to 5.042 and the total deaths to 359 according to the daily briefing of the ministry of health.

The ministry spokesperson Khaled Megahed explained that all new recorded patients during the past 24 hours are Egyptians.

According to the statement, out of 1,669 patients confirmed to be negative; 1304 were discharged from the hospital after being completely recovered.

All positive cases are placed under quarantine at isolation hospitals, the spokesman said.

Zayed urged any citizen who feels the virus symptoms to head to the nearest hospital to be tested along with preserving the social distance and abiding by the precautionary procedures imposed by the government.

President Abdel Fattah al Sisi ordered Tuesday providing all needed medical supplies to the quarantine and isolation hospitals all over the country.