File photo: People are pictured wearing protective face masks, amid concerns over the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Cairo, Egypt. (Photo: Reuters)
Egypt reported 1,407 new coronavirus cases on Saturday, bringing the total infection tally to 140,878 since the outbreak began in February.
The health ministry also reported 54 new deaths, bringing the total number of deaths from the virus to 7,741.
It is the third consecutive day for Egypt to report daily coronavirus cases above the 1400-case threshold.
The statement said that 654 patients have been discharged after recovering from the virus in the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of recoveries to 113,480.
Egypt has warned of a spike in COVID-19 cases since November, as the general public have been showing a relaxed enforcement of the preventive measures since a drop in confirmed cases has been recorded in the past months.
Officials said they will exercise “zero tolerance” against people who fail to adhere to preventive measures against the pandemic.
In a move to stem the spread of the coronavirus in the country during the second wave of the pandemic, Egypt will charge an immediate fine of EGP 50 (approximately $3.16) on those not wearing face masks in public starting Sunday.
The same fine will be imposed in metro and railway stations nationwide on people not wearing face masks.
Restaurants and coffee shops not abiding by the coronavirus restrictions, which include a limited occupancy rate of 50 percent, will be closed for a week and fined EGP 4,000 ($252.5).
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