Eleven Egyptian expats in Saudi Arabia have tested positive for the new coronavirus, the country's health ministry tweeted on Friday. All Egyptian patients were in close contact with an Egyptian visitor previously reported to have the coronavirus, the ministry said, adding that they are isolated in quarantine in Mecca and do not have any symptoms. The Egyptians were among 17 new cases detected in the kingdom, bringing the total number of confirmed cases of the virus there to 62. On Thursday, Saudi Arabia registered 21 Egyptians with coronavirus, three days after detection of the first case in an Egyptian visitor at King Abdulaziz International Airport. The total number of Egyptians diagnosed with the coronavirus in the Gulf country stands at 33. Earlier this week, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the worldwide outbreak of the new coronavirus to be a pandemic. Saudi Arabia's health ministry has warned against holding any large social occasions, including funerals, in light of the virus' spread. Earlier, the ministry advised those who had arrived from South Korea, Egypt, Lebanon and those who had had close contact with an infected person to remain at home in isolation even if they showed no symptoms, and to follow the necessary medical instructions. Travel between Egypt and the Gulf kingdom has been suspended, with only limited flights operated between the two countries to bring their nationals back home. (For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.)
