Egypt’s Minister of State for Information Osama Heikal stated on Monday that the number of Egyptians stranded abroad due to the coronavirus crisis has reached 3,378.

Heikal said Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly held a meeting on Monday to discuss the matter with the ministers of foreign affairs, immigration, health, civil aviation, and information.

According to Heikal, foreign minister Sameh Shoukry stated in the meeting that the 3,378 Egyptians are stranded in a number of Arab, African, European and Asian countries as well as in the United States, Canada, and Australia.

Shoukry added that the government defined the stranded Egyptians as those who were in foreign countries on temporary visits, including tourists, Egyptians on business trips, and professors students who could not return to Egypt due to the suspension of air flights.

Heikal said those Egyptians are also identified by their exit visa and in the coming days a schedule for their return will be announced by Egyptian embassies.

A number of Egyptians returned from the Gulf, the UK and United States on board special EgyptAir flights sent by the government. Upon their return, they were isolated in special hotels for 14 days.