Egypt: Passengers coming to 4 airports allowed to conduct PCR tests against COVID-19 upon arrival

CAIRO - 31 August 2020: Egypt's civil aviation authority announced on Sunday that all passengers coming to Hurghada, Sharm El Sheikh, Marsa Alam, and Taba airports are allowed to conduct PCR tests for COVID-19 upon their arrival.

Ashraf Noweir, the authority's head, informed all airlines operating in the four airports that the decision will be effective as of Tuesday, September 1. The PCR test costs $30.

Egypt announced that starting September 1, all arriving international travelers, including Egyptian citizens, will need to present a negative PCR test certificate for COVID-19 taken before arrival. 

PCR tests must be taken within 72 hours before arrival. Travelers must present paper copies of the test results; digital copies will be unaccepted. Children under the age of six of all nationalities are exempt.

Also, on September 1, Egypt will re-open Luxor and Aswan governorates to international visitors, including temples, archeological sites and museums.

On 30 August, the Health Ministry reported that 230 new coronavirus cases were detected, upping the total number of confirmed cases since the outbreak in the country began to 98,727.

In a statement, Spokesman for the Health Ministry Khaled Megahed said 23 patients had died from the virus over the past 24 hours, raising the death toll to 5,399.