A Chinese citizen that entered Egypt through the Cairo International Airport has tested positive for Covid-19, announced the country's Ministry of Health and Population (MHP). This is the first confirmed COVID-19 case in Egypt and mainland Africa.
MHP said this Chinese national was asymptomatic or presented no obvious symptoms of the coronavirus disease. The infection was detected after laboratory tests taken as part of a follow-up program resulted in a positive coronavirus finding, said MHP spokesman Khaled Megahed. He noted the infected Chinese national is completely stable and is being kept in quarantine at a Cairo hospital.
"The case was transferred by a 'self-sterilized' ambulance to a hospital to be isolated and followed-up" said Megahed.
Megahed also said MHP quickly informed the informed World Health Organization (WHO) about this first case as soon as it suspected the infection. He asserts all necessary measures have been taken to prevent the coronavirus from spreading in cooperation with WHO.
In a statement, MHP said it has taken strict measures to monitor persons that came into direct contact with the infected Chinese national. These people, mostly Egyptians, are now quarantined in their homes for a period of 14 days as a precautionary measure, said the ministry.
Egypt's transparency dealing with the situation, and "its keenness to inform WHO of the case as soon as it was discovered was hailed by John Gabor, WHO representative in Egypt.
Gabor said Egypt was one of the first African countries to develop a good preventive plan against COVID-19. Egypt was provided with "accurate detectors" that can reveal infected persons, he said.
African leaders have expressed alarm COVID-19 might wreak havoc among less developed African countries with fewer health resources should the coronavirus gain a foothold on the continent.
Egypt has taken prudent precautions to prevent COVID-19 landing on its shores. It suspended all flights to China of EgyptAir, its national carrier, earlier this month. All flights to China will remain suspended until the end of the month.
In addition, it evacuated 301 Egyptians from Wuhan, epicentre of the COVID-19 outbreak in China. These Egyptians have remained in quarantine since returning from China.
As of 7:30 a.m., Saturday morning, Hong Kong time, the official toll from Covid-19 worldwide stands at 64,452 cases (of which 63,851 are in mainland China) with 1,383 deaths, of which 1,380 are in mainland China. China reports 6,768 people have recovered from the disease.
Japan has 254 confirmed cases, the most outside mainland China. But more than 200 of these cases are aboard the cruise ship, Diamond Princess, currently quarantined in dock at Yokohama. Japan reported its first death from the disease on Friday. Singapore is the third hardest hit with 67 confirmed cases.
