Egypt’s prominent non-profit Magdi Yacoub Heart Foundation has said four coronavirus cases have been detected at its heart surgery centre in Aswan, south of Cairo.

“Four cases have been detected at the centre over the past period: a patient and three security staff members,” the hospital said in a statement on Wednesday.

It said it has notified the health ministry to take necessary procedures.

The hospital has taken all necessary safety measures following the detection of the cases, including isolating the areas where they were present and sterilising the facility, it said.

The administration is closely tracking those who were in contact with the people infected, it added.

The hospital is also undertaking periodic tests for all medical staff, patients, employees and visitors in coordination with the health ministry.

The heart centre is the latest in a series of hospitals across Egypt to report coronavirus cases among its patients or medical staff over the past week, raising fears that the pandemic could spread across health facilities in the country.

Earlier this week, at least 17 medics in Egypt's main cancer hospital have been quarantined after testing positive for the virus.

To date, Egypt has recorded 1,560 coronavirus cases including 103 fatalities. A total of 305 have recovered.