File photo: Women wearing protective face masks, amid concerns over the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in front of Bab Zuweila, one of the surviving main gates of the old city of the Egyptian capital Cairo, Egypt. (Photo: Reuters)
Egypt reported 133 new coronavirus cases on Wednesday, bringing the total infection tally to 104,035 since the outbreak hit the country in mid-February, a statement by the health ministry said.
The ministry also reported 9 new deaths, bringing the total fatalities from the virus to 6,010.
The ministry said that 43 patients were discharged from hospitals over the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of recoveries to 97,492.
Speaking on TV on Sunday, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research Khaled Abdel-Ghaffar underlined that Egypt is still in the first wave of the pandemic, albeit one in steep decline.
Though the number of new coronavirus cases has been hovering around 150 a day nationwide since August, the government has repeatedly urged caution to avoid a second wave of the pandemic, particularly with the advent of autumn and the beginning of the new academic year.
Egypt began the move towards a gradual reopening of the economy in June, lifting the night-time curfew, reopening restaurants and places of worship, and resuming regular international flights as part of its plans to coexist with the virus.
On 21 September, Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly announced a further easing of restrictions by allowing open-air funerals, wedding ceremonies, film festivals and conferences. The cabinet has warned, however, that strict restrictions will be re-imposed should infection rates rise.
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