Egypt's Armed Forces have donated EGP 100m for Tahya Misr Fund to support state efforts to curb the outbreak of novel coronavirus (Covid-19). "The heroes and the fighters of the Egyptian Armed Forces have donated EGP 100m for Tahya Misr Fund," the military spokesperson announced on Tuesday. Earlier, Egypt's Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry discussed with his French counterpart, Jean-Yves Le Drian, the ongoing fight against the coronavirus. During a phone call on Tuesday, the pair discussed enhancing bilateral cooperation and intensifying efforts in curbing the outbreak of the disease in both countries. The foreign ministers also discussed promoting cooperation in various fields and tackling regional issues of common interest. Egyptian Health Ministry reported on Tuesday 157 new coronavirus cases and 14 new deaths, raising the country's total to 3,490 cases and 264 deaths, while 870 cases have recovered. On Tuesday, Egypt's Pharmacists Syndicate mourned the death of a pharmacist from the coronavirus who had been working at the Arab Contractors Medical Center. Moreover, the Medical Syndicate has confirmed that there have been a total of 43 coronavirus infections among doctors with three deaths. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly held a meeting on Tuesday with Minister of Health Hala Zayed to discuss Egypt's urgent medical supplies requirements. Also present at the meeting were the President's adviser on health and prevention affairs Mohamed Awad Tag El-Din, Minister of Higher Education Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, and the head of Egyptian Drug Authority Tamer Essam. The officials reviewed the medical supplies required, including N95 masks, regular masks, protective plastic suits, and other medical supplies. These will go to quarantine and fever and chest hospitals, as well as the Egyptian Ambulance Organization (EAO), university hospitals, and health insurance hospitals. Madbouly commissioned the Ministry of Health alongside other concerned ministries and the Egyptian Authority for Unified Drug Procurement to coordinate how donations of medical supplies are used, including those coming from the private sector, the business community, and the civil society. Egypt has expanded the number of quarantines nationwide to include university hospitals and student dormitories as part of the state's efforts to limit the spread of the coronavirus. The university hospitals that have been reassigned as quarantine hospitals bring with them 2,056 beds and 297 intensive care beds, according to Minister Abdel Ghaffar. He added that there will be a total of 33 student dorm buildings with 5,828 rooms that will be reassigned as quarantines. More 16 buildings with 2,799 rooms and 8 buildings with 1,961 rooms will be available as isolation places in further stages to come. The Ministry of Healthhad said earlier that the coronavirus infections among the under-50s and who are displaying minor symptoms will be transferred to the designated university dorms. Last week, the El-Qasr El-Aini Hospital was allocated as an isolation hospital for the medical, teaching, and administrative staff of Cairo University affected by the coronavirus.
