Egypt has said it has detected 12 new coronavirus cases on “a Nile cruise ship coming from Aswan to Luxor,” a joint statement by the health ministry and the World Health Organization (WHO) said, bringing the total number of cases observed in the country to 15. Health ministry spokesman Khaled Megahed said the detection came after information from WHO that a Taiwanese-American tourist, who was on board the cruise, had tested positive after returning home. Megahed said the ministry has followed up on medical conditions of those who were in contact with the tourist over the past fourteen days and they did not show any symptoms. However, the 12 cases, all Egyptian workers on the ship, tested positive after a PCR test was carried out following the conclusion of the 14-day incubation period. The 12 cases have been referred to an isolation hospital, with others believed to be in contact with them currently placed in quarantine for 14 days, to follow up on their health conditions. Friday's announcement comes one day after Egypt announced the first confirmed case in the country of an Egyptian, a recent returnee from Europe. The two previous cases were both foreign nationals; one has since recovered. John Jabbour, the WHO representative in Egypt, said the detection of the cases confirms the efficiency of Egypt's preventive plan to combat the disease and deal with infected cases following their detection. He praised Egypt's transparency and fast response in notifying the WHO about the cases, the statement said.
