Health minister: 2,166 suspected cases test negative for coronavirus

CAIRO: 7 March 2020: Up to 2,166 suspected cases have tested negative for coronavirus in Egypt since January, Health Minister Hala Zayed said in a statement Friday.

Fifteen cases have tested positive, including 12 cases confirmed Friday in Luxor, an Egyptian national returning from Serbia passing by France and two foreigners, she added.

All the confirmed cases had been moved to the Negelah Central Hospital in Marsa Matrouh, while those who were in contact had been submitted to a 14-day quarantine, Zayed noted.

Moreover, 61 suspected cases, who were returning from Saudi Arabia after performing Umrah, were tested negative, she added.

The minister pointed out that the first coronavirus case was discharged from the quarantine center after he had recovered.

She affirmed that any suspected case nationwide will be announced in coordination with the World Health Organization (WHO).

The Health Ministry raises its preparedness at all the country's ports to monitor the virus developments.