Egypt recorded 510 new coronavirus infections on Sunday, the highest daily rise since the panddmic hit the country in mid-February, bringing the total number of cases to 12,229, the health ministry said.

The ministry also reported 18 fatalities on Sunday, bringing the total number of deaths to 630.

The health ministry added that 222 patients have fully recovered and have been discharged from isolation hospitals and quarantine facilities. The total number of recoveries from the highly contagious virus now stands at 3,172.

The number of patients whose PCR test results have turned from positive to negative, including complete recoveries, has now reached 3,742, ministry spokesman Khaled Megahed said.

The new cases were detected through the ministry's investigation and contact tracing protocols, he added.

Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly announced on Sunday stricter measures to be applied during the Eid El-Fitr holiday to stem the spread of coronavirus.

A nationwide curfew will begin at 5 pm instead of the current 9 pm starting from next Sunday, the first day of Eid, until Friday.

Throughout the six-day period, till 29 May, all shops, malls, beaches and parks will be completely shut, and travel between governorates will be suspended.

Madbouly said the extension comes under measures to curtail the spread of the virus during Eid Al-Fitr, which he said poses a big risk for a surge in infections due to traditions of gatherings during the festive feast.