Egypt reported 168 new coronavirus cases on Monday, bringing the total infection tally to 101,177 since the outbreak hit the country in mid-February.

The ministry also reported 13 new deaths, bringing the total fatalities from the virus to 5,661, the health ministry announced.

The ministry said that 808 patients were discharged from hospitals over the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of recoveries to 84,969.

Egypt had witnessed a slight increase in the daily tally of coronavirus cases in the past weeks, reversing a low of 89 on August 22 — the lowest daily infection toll since early April.

The surge comes as the government repeatedly urged caution to avoid a second wave of the pandemic, particularly with the advent of autumn and the beginning of the new academic year.

The country also decided on Monday to ease more lockdown measures as of next week, allowing funeral prayers, weddings in open places only, after a six-month-long closure of these services due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Egypt has moved towards a gradual reopening of its economy since late June, lifting some of its anti-virus restrictions, including lifting a nighttime curfew, reopening restaurants and places of worship, and resuming regular international flights as part of a plan to coexist with the virus.