Egyptian cardiologist dies with coronavirus: official

CAIRO – 14 June 2020: Nabil Nessim, a consultant cardiologist, has died from the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), an official at the Egyptian Medical Syndicate said, raising the total number of deaths among doctors in the country to 60.

This comes as Egypt has so far recorded 1,484 coronavirus deaths, according to official figures on Saturday.

President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi last week has directed the government to apply the highest standards of infection control and provide the required medical supplies to protect all medical staff and help them fulfill their duties, amid the novel coronavirus crisis, an official statement read.

Sisi’s remarks took place in a meeting with Prime Minister Mustafa Madbouli and a number of ministers. The president voiced appreciation for the great efforts made by the medical teams during such exceptional period.

As the number of deceased doctors due to coronavirus has been increasing, Head of the Medical Syndicate Hussein Khairy and Prime Minister Mustafa Madbouli met in May, shortly after a young doctor died from coronavirus in Cairo, due to alleged administrative failure.

Minister of Health Hala Zayed ordered an investigation into the death of doctor Walid Yahia Abdel-Halim, who served in al-Munira hospital downtown Cairo. The initial investigation results regarding the death of the young physician shows some administrative deficiencies in dealing with the situation inside the hospital.

According to sources, President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi has followed up on the investigation.

Sisi in April ordered providing all needed medical supplies to the quarantine and isolation hospitals all over the country.

According to presidency spokesperson Bassam Rady, Sisi followed up with latest updates regarding workflow inside of the isolation hospitals, during a video conference meeting with number of the hospital’s directors.

Sisi described the hospitals as one of the state’s main pillars to combat the spread of the novel Coronavirus.

Sisi expressed appreciation and pride regarding the huge efforts made by the medical staff working in these hospitals during such exceptional time.

According to the statement, the meeting included directors of hospitals of Agouza, Sheikh Zayed, 15 May, Abu Khalifa, Esna, and Ain Shams. Attended the meeting also Egypt’s minster of Health Hala Zayed and Minister of Higher Education Khaled Abdel Ghaffar along with the President’s Advisor for Health Affairs, Mohamed Awad Tag El-Din.