Egypt has banned cinema screenings and theatre performances as part of the latest preventive measures to stem to spread of novel coronavirus.

According to a statement by the cabinet, Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly suspended all cinema screenings and theatre performances until further notice.

The decision comes as Egypt increases preventive measures nationwide to fight the outbreak of the virus, as the number of detected cases has continued to rise since a cluster of infected people was discovered on a Nile cruise earlier this month.

On Monday, Egypt suspended all flights to and from its airports starting Thursday till the end of the month.

At least 166 cases have been detected in Egypt since the outbreak, according to the health ministry, with the death toll rising to four.