Egypt said it will require all travellers arriving at the country’s airports to present a negative PCRlab test result for the coronavirus starting 1 September, with the test result dated within 72 hours of the traveller’s arrival.

In a circulation on Thursday, the civil aviation ministry said the negative PCR test, required of all travellers, including Egyptians, must be conducted a maximum of 72 hours prior to the scheduled flight, instead of a previous 48 hours.

Children under six of all nationalities are exempted from the decision, it added.

The announcement comes a week after Egypt said it will require all travellers arriving in the country to present a PCR lab test result certificate for the coronavirus due to “increasing infections in some countries.”

Egypt began a gradual resumption of regular international flights last month, having shut its airspace in March in the wake of the pandemic.

Foreign tourists are currently allowed entry only into the three coastal Egyptian governorates with the lowest coronavirus infection rates in the country – South Sinai, Red Sea, and Matrouh.

Earlier this week, Egypt said it has received 126,000 tourists since it has reopened to international flights.

The government has so far allowed around 600 hotels that have met safety protocols to reopen at a reduced occupancy rate of 50 percent.

The country's key tourism sector has been hit hard by the pandemic.

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