The ministry also reported 68 new deaths related to Covid-19 complications in the past 24 hours nationwide, bringing the total number of deaths from the virus to 20,305.

The statement added that 531 patients have been discharged after recovering from the virus, bringing the total number of recoveries to 295,434.

Egypt has tightened up the pandemic related safety measures at its land, air, and seaports due to the mounting concerns over the detection of the new coronavirus variant “Omicron” in South Africa.

The country has suspended direct flights with South Africa, imposing travel restrictions on passengers flying indirectly to Cairo from South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Eswatini, Mozambique and Lesotho.

Passengers coming from those countries to Cairo as a final destination through transit flights or stopping at Cairo International Airport as a transit point before reaching their final destination will take a rapid test.

The World Health Organization has named the new "variant of concern" Omicron, and scientists are racing to understand it and whether vaccines need adjustments.

The variant has already reached Asia and Europe.

Several countries including the US, UK, EU countries, Saudi Arabia, Oman and Bahrain began to impose flight restrictions on direct flights from Southern Africa countries.