21 die with coronavirus in Egypt, 745 test positive

CAIRO – 20 May 2020: 745 people have tested positive for coronavirus in Egypt, according to the Health Ministry’s Wednesday briefing, bringing the total number of cases to 14,229. This is the highest daily count recorded by the northeastern African country.

The ministry also reported 21 deaths due to the novel virus (COVID-19), bringing the death toll to 680.

Also, the test results of 4,584 people turned from positive to negative, the ministry said, including 3,994 people who totally recovered. It added that 252 patients left hospitals.

On May 14, Egypt released a coexistence plan to deal with the coronavirus pandemic over the coming period. The government highlights the importance of abiding by precautionary measures while preparing to gradually resume the normal life cycle.

The plan comes as a bid to reduce the number of infections and deaths and, at the same time, achieve a balance between maintaining a normal life cycle and abiding by the precautionary measures, to get rid of the negative psychological effects of the outbreak, and to avoid crowds resulting from services like transportation and shopping.

Cinemas, theaters, cafes, fitness halls, and sports clubs should remain closed during the period of coexisting with the coronavirus in light of the first phase of the ministry’s plan to cope with the virus set to start at the beginning of June.

The ministry also recommended keeping the ban on weddings and funerals and suspending universities, schools, kindergartens, and nurseries.



As Egypt recently saw a surge in the number of the coronavirus cases, Health Minister Hala Zayed earlier in May said the state authorities have responded to the coronavirus crisis and made all efforts to curb its spread, blaming the surge on the behavior of many citizens.

On Tuesday, Prime Minister Mustafa Madbouli has issued a bill obliging employees and other people in markets, government institutions and banks to wear masks or face a fine of LE 4,000 ($254).