Egypt’s National Elections Authority (NEA) announced that the first day of the parliamentary elections’ second stage wrapped up at 9 PM officially on Saturday.

In its statement on the day, the head of the NEA Lasheen Ibrahim praised the turnout of the voters, adding that the NEA followed the progress of the voting process from an operation room throughout the day.

President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi, Coptic Orthodox Church Pope Tawadros II, and several ministers and key officials cast their ballots on Saturday.

Some 2,083 candidates are competing for 70 individual seats, while 284 candidates are competing under the list system in two districts.

The second stage of parliamentary elections covers 13 governorates: Cairo, Qalioubiya, Daqahliya, Menoufiya, Gharbiya, Kafr El-Sheikh, Sharqiya, Damietta, Port Said, Ismailiya, Suez, North Sinai, and South Sinai.

There was a noticeable turnout for women and elderly in the elections.

Around 31 million Egyptians are eligible to cast their ballots in the second phase.

As the daily number of Coronavirus patients increased in Egypt in the past few days, with Egyptian officials warning of a surge in cases in the upcoming days, the ministry of health took precautionary measures at the polling stations.

The Egyptian health ministry said on Saturday it has allocated 1,413 ambulance vehicles and four ambulance boats as part of a 24-hour plan to provide medical services to citizens during the House of Representatives election at the 13 governorates.

Preventive measures are also being taken in the polling stations including maintaining social distancing between voters, avoiding crowding at polling stations, and wearing face masks.

Voters’ temperatures are monitored before they enter the polling stations, and those suffering from fever or respiratory symptoms, such as coughing or difficulty breathing, will be excluded from the voting process and directed to a nearby hospital.

The run-offs will be held domestically for the first phase on 23-24 November, and 7-8 December for the second phase.

The results of the run-offs for the first phase will be announced on 30 November, while the final results for the second phase are set to be announced on 14 December.