A worker sprays disinfectant on an electric vehicle at a hotel in Hurghada, Egypt, on June 19, 2020. Egypt reported on Friday 1,774 new COVID-19 cases, the highest daily increase so far, taking the total number of confirmed cases in the country to 52,211, said the health ministry. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa)
CAIRO, June 19 (Xinhua) -- Egypt reported on Friday 1,774 new COVID-19 cases, the highest daily increase so far, taking the total number of confirmed cases in the country to 52,211, said the health ministry.
Khaled Megahed, the ministry's spokesman, said 79 more patients died from the coronavirus, bringing the death toll to 2,017, while 400 patients have recovered and were discharged from hospitals, raising the total recoveries to 13,928.
Since March 25, the Egyptian government has been imposing a nighttime curfew as a key precautionary measure in combating the highly infectious virus.
The current eight-hour curfew in Egypt will continue until the end of the month, amid the government's coexistence plan to maintain anti-coronavirus precautionary measures while resuming economic activities.
Egypt plans to resume air traffic in all Egyptian airports from July 1 as the country prepares for the return of foreign tourism, after more than three months of international flight suspension over the coronavirus concerns.
The most populous Arab country has already started gradual reopening of services and offices, and allowed operation of over 230 hotels for local tourists with 50-percent capacity after they were given hygiene safety certificates.
Egypt and China have been cooperating closely in fighting the pandemic through exchanging medical aid and expertise.
In early February, Egypt was among the first nations to provide aid to China in its fight against the coronavirus outbreak.
China, after having largely controlled the pandemic, returned favor by sending three batches of medical aid to Egypt.
On April 16, May 10 and May 16, Chinese doctors held video conferences with Egyptian counterparts to share their experience in prevention and treatment of the virus. Enditem
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