Egypt records 495 new coronavirus cases, bringing total to 8,476

CAIRO, 8 May 2020: Egypt recorded, Friday, 495 new coronavirus cases and 21 deaths, which raises the total infected patients of COVID-19 to 8,476 and the total deaths to 503 according to Health Minister’s daily briefing.

Health Ministry Spokesman Khaled Megahed said that the number of coronavirus cases whose tests turned from positive to negative increased to 2,416, including 1,945 people who recovered from the virus.

All positive cases were quarantined at hospitals, the spokesman said.

Health Minister Hala Zayed on Thursday reviewed her ministry's efforts to counter the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in the country, saying the hotline allocated to receive coronavirus complaints receive around 3,650 calls daily.

Ministry of Health has allocated a hotline (105) to respond to all inquiries by individuals and provide information related to the virus.

During a Cabinet meeting, the health minister pointed to the total number of coronavirus cases and deaths, as well as the number of recoveries.

Zayed also posted the prime minister on the number of cases, whose tests turned from positive into negative, in addition to the number of patients, who have been transferred to isolation facilities in university dormitories and youth hostels.

She touched on the electronic system used to register the personal data of positive cases before transferring them to isolation hospitals, university dormitories and youth hostels.

The minister underlined the importance of wearing medical masks to avoid infection.
Egypt’s Prime Minister Mustafa Madbouli on Thursday said the preventive measures taken to face the coronavirus crisis during the first half of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan will continue for the rest of the month.

Among these measures is a night curfew from 9:00 pm to 6:00 am, and opening commercial centers over the whole week until 5:00 pm.

In a press conference, Madbouli said the budget for the new fiscal year will include an article allocating LE 100 billion ($6.35 billion) to raise wages and pensions, affirming that the state has been keen to not place extra burden on citizens during the coronavirus crisis.