Egypt reported 387 new coronavirus cases on Wednesday, bringing the total infection tally up to 7,588, the health ministry announced. The ministry also reported 17 new deaths, bringing the total deaths from the virus to 469. The statement said that 85 Egyptian COVID-19 patients have been discharged from hospital, bringing the total number of recoveries to 1,815. Health ministry spokesman Khaled Megahed said in a statement that the number of people whose test results have turned from positive to negative, including the 1,815 recoveries, has now reached 2,314 Egypt has relaxed some restrictions in recent days. Car licensing units at traffic departments, real estate registry offices, and some court services have reopened. Measures applied by the government since mid-March to contain the pandemic include closing schools and universities, mosques and churches and suspending international flights. The cabinet also imposed a curfew, in place since 25 March, which was initially from 7pm to 6am but was shortened at the beginning of Ramadan to begin at 9pm. On 5 May, the health ministry announced that Egypt surpassed the 7,000 infections milestone only three days after breaking the 6,000 mark, and almost a month after exceeding 1,000 cases on 4 April. In a scheduled press conference on 7 May, PM Mostafa Madbouly is expected to either extend the nighttime curfew with same timing or to make it stricter. "All expectations suggest that the government will renew all measures taken to combat the epidemic, including maintaining the same timing of the curfew that has been applied from the beginning of Ramadan," cabinet spokesperson Nader Saad said in a TV statement on Monday.
