Minister of Health Hala Zayed has revealed that the total cost of PCR and rapid tests for the coronavirus (COVID-19) as well as medical supplies for repatriated Egyptians in quarantines has reached EGP 28m in the period from 3 to 9 May. The amount covers governorates of Cairo, Giza, Damietta, Red Sea, Suez, Port Said, Alexandria, Aswan, and South Sinai. The minister announced the figures during the weekly ministerial meeting headed by Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly on Wednesday. Zayed said that comparisons were made between the number of cases transferred from fever and chest hospitals to quarantine hospitals between 6 and 12 May. It was noted that quarantine hospitals received 59% of infections, while university dormitories and youth centres received 41% of the cases. She added that patients spent an average of 11.6 days in quarantine at hospitals across the country, which include the Al-Sadaka Hospital in Aswan, 15 May Hospital, Esna Hospital, and Qaha Hospital, among others. Zayed said that 318 of the total recoveries were among patients in the 30-39 age range, while 288 were from the 40-49 age range. The Health Ministry reported 338 new coronavirus cases and 12 deaths on Wednesday, bringing the country's total to 10,431 cases and 556 fatalities. Up to 2,486 cases have recovered so far. Also during the Wednesday meeting, Madbouly said that the state has endured so much to bring back its citizens stranded abroad. He revealed that the number of repatriated Egyptians is expected to reach 16,000. Madbouly added that the government has made efforts to prepare quarantine areas for returnees and provide them with the necessary medical supervision. The prime minister called on all ministries to apply a plan of expenditure rationalisation to face the economic hardships and fallout due to the coronavirus pandemic. Madbouly said that the International Monetary Fund's (IMF) approval of Egypt's request for emergency financial assistance will contribute to the stability of Egypt's foreign exchange reserves. The IMF's $2.772bn assistance will support state efforts in confronting the repercussions of the ongoing health crisis. A total of 882 repatriated Egyptians arrived in the country on Wednesday, coming from Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, according to the Ministry of Immigration and Egyptian Expatriate Affairs. Earlier on Tuesday, 332 stranded Egyptians arrived from Canada to Marsa Alam airport. The airport also received 87 stranded Egyptians from London. Both groups have been quarantined for 14 days in Marsa Alam hotels.
