The World Health Organization (WHO) is looking at the reason behind the “high rate” of deaths from the coronavirus in Egypt which stands at 7.6%, its representative in Egypt John Jabbour said.

“This percentage is under study in coordination with the health ministry so we can identify the reason behind the high death rate in Egypt,” Jabbour told a televised press briefing on Monday.

Around 30 percent of patients of the respiratory illness in Egypt died before being sent to quarantine hospitals or receiving medical treatment, he said.

Some 85 percent of the patients have recovered without receiving medical treatment as they displayed "very mild" symptoms, he added.

Medical staff make up around 13 percent of the confirmed coronavirus cases in the country, he said.

“Those on the frontline are the most vulnerable to infection,” he added, while calling on medical staff to limit their movement between hospitals.

He warned that crowded street markets is increasing the risk of virus transmission, urging people to avoid large gatherings and comply with preventative measures imposed to limit the spread of the virus.

The WHO's representative hailed efforts by the Egyptian health ministry in monitoring the respiratory disease through what he described as a comprehensive disease surveillance system.

Egypt has so far reported 2,065 confirmed cases of the coronavirus, with 159 deaths.