Egypt's health ministry reported 950 new coronavirus cases on Thursday, bringing the total infection tally to 79,254 nationwide since the detection of the first case on 14 February. It is the second time this month that the ministry of health records less than 1,000 cases per day. The ministry said in a statement that it reported 53 new deaths, bringing the total number of deaths from the virus to 3,617. The first coronavirus fatality announced in Egypt was on 8 March, with the highest single-day death toll to date recorded on 15 May, with 97 fatalities. The statement added that 512 patients have been discharged after recovering from the respiratory virus, bringing the total number of recoveries to 22,753. On Wednesday, the ministry said that the recovery rate for coronavirus patients in isolation hospitals has risen to 28.1 percent, marking the highest level since the epidemic hit the country. The country is currently witnessing a stable death rate of 4.5 percent from the virus, the ministry said in a statement sent to Ahram Online. Driven by economic concerns, Egypt began on 27 June to ease lockdown measures more than three months after they were imposed, lifting a nighttime curfew and allowing more businesses to reopen, including restaurants, coffee shops and cinemas.
