Egypt: Authorities warn of second COVID-19 wave as cases increases August 12 /update 33

Event

Officials in Egypt warned of a possible second wave of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases on Tuesday, August 11, as back-to-back significant increases in new cases and deaths were reported. Officials reported 174 new cases on Monday, August 10, as well as 26 deaths. Isolation hospitals were reopened on Tuesday in preparation for a possible spike in cases. A spokesperson for the Ministry of Health has asked those that are over 60 or suffering from pre-existing conditions to avoid gatherings. The increase in cases comes amid reports of health precautions being breached, with guidelines governing the use of face masks being largely ignored and large crowds gathering at malls, cafes, restaurants and beaches. The rise also follows from the Eid Al-Adha holiday and associated celebrations in early August.

As of August 11, officials have reported a total of 95,834 COVID-19 cases in the country, along with 5059 associated fatalities.

Context

The first case of COVID-19 was reported on December 31 and the source of the outbreak has been linked to a wet market in Wuhan (Hubei province, China). Since then, human-to-human transmission of the virus has been confirmed.

Cases of the virus have been confirmed in numerous countries and territories worldwide. On March 11, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the global outbreak a pandemic. Virus-screening and quarantining measures are being implemented at airports worldwide, as well as extensive travel restrictions.

The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, dry cough, and tiredness. Some patients may experience other symptoms such as body pains, nasal congestion, headache, conjunctivitis, sore throat, diarrhea, loss of taste or smell or a rash on skin or discoloration of fingers or toes. These symptoms (in most cases mild) appear gradually. Generally, most patients (around 80 percent) recover from the disease without being hospitalized.

Advice

Measures adopted by local authorities evolve quickly and are usually effective immediately. Depending on the evolution of the outbreak in other countries, authorities are likely to modify, at very short notice, the list of countries whose travelers are subject to border control measures or entry restrictions upon their arrival to the territory in question. It is advised to postpone nonessential travel due to the risk that travelers may be refused entry or be subject to quarantine upon their arrival or during their stay. To reduce the risk of transmission, travelers are advised to abide by the following measures:

• Frequently clean hands by applying an alcohol-based hand rub or washing with soap and water.
• When coughing and sneezing, cover mouth and nose with a flexed elbow or tissue; if used, throw the tissue away immediately and wash hands.
• If experiencing a fever, cough, difficulty breathing, or any other symptoms suggestive of respiratory illness, including pneumonia, call emergency services before going to the doctor or hospital to prevent the potential spread of the disease.