Egypt’s President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi has ordered a military plane filled with medical aid and protective suits be dispatched to the US, according to a video posted on his spokesman’s Facebook page on Tuesday.

 

The video stated that the general command of the armed forces had prepared a plane loaded with large quantities of medical aid, within the framework of relations between the two countries to confront the coronavirus.

 

"This aid comes as a continuation of Egypt's pioneering role to assist friendly and fraternal countries in this critical phase the world is witnessing,” it added. 

 

In response to the aid, US Ambassador to Egypt Jonathan R. Cohen posted a video to thank the Egyptian government and people.

"On behalf of the American people, the US government, and the U.S. Embassy in Cairo, I want to thank the government and people of Egypt for their generous contribution of medical supplies which will help us confront the COVID-19 crisis," Cohen said.

"At this difficult time, a generous donation like the one you just made is a great symbol of our solidarity and the value you place in our strategic partnership."

Since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, Egypt has sent several shipments of supplies and medical aid to some of the world’s worst-stricken countries, including China, UK and Italy. 

 

Egypt recently received four tonnes of medical protective supplies from China to help it fight the coronavirus, according to the health ministry.

 

The aid was the first in a series of shipments to be sent in the upcoming days, said Chinese Ambassador to Cairo Liao Liqiang.

 

Egypt has recorded 3,333, coronavirus cases and 250 fatalities since the first case was recorded in the country in February.

 

The US has by far the world's largest number of confirmed cases, with more than 815,000infections and over 45,000 deaths.