Egypt asks women to delay pregnancy amid COVID-19

CAIRO - 26 June 2020: Egypt’s Ministry of Health has advised women to postpone pregnancy amid the outbreak of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

In a statement issued on Friday, the ministry stated that the virus could cause blood clotting and, consequently, affects the placenta which feeds the baby. The virus could cause other symptoms to the pregnant woman, the statement added.

The Population's Family Planning Sector at the ministry said that women’s immunity becomes lower during the pregnancy period, making them more vulnerable to the infection. The sector added that babies could be affected by the virus.

Egypt recorded, Thursday, 1,569 new coronavirus cases, upping the total number of confirmed cases to 61,130.

In a statement, Spokesman for the Health Ministry Khaled Megahed said 83 patients have died from the virus over the past 24 hours, raising the death toll to 2,533.