Egypt reported its first fatality from the coronavirus on Sunday, with the Health Ministry saying a 60-year-old German tourist, who had arrived in the country seven days ago and was taken to hospital in the Red Sea resort of Hurghada, had died.
Officials said on Saturday the coronavirus had been detected in 45 people on the cruise ship, including foreign tourists, after the vessel reached the southern city of Luxor. Before that, Egypt had reported only three confirmed cases of the virus.
Late on Sunday, the Health Ministry said in a statement that Egypt registered seven new cases – four foreigners and three Egyptians – bringing the total number of confirmed case to 55.
In Iran, which has been hit the hardest in the Middle East, state media reported that all flights to Europe would be suspended indefinitely.
Mainland China, outside Hubei province the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak, reported no new locally transmitted cases on Sunday for the second straight day, as authorities remained on alert for infections arriving from abroad.
China had 40 new confirmed cases of coronavirus infections on Sunday, the National Health Commission said on Monday, down from 44 cases a day earlier, and the lowest number since the health authority started publishing nationwide data on Jan. 20.
Of the new cases on Sunday, 36 were new infections in Wuhan, the provincial capital of Hubei, while the remaining four in Gansu province were imported from Iran.
The total number of imported cases hit 67, including the four Gansu cases.
The new cases on Sunday bring the total accumulated number of confirmed cases in mainland China to 80,735.
While the domestic spread of the virus has significantly slowed in recent days, authorities continue to be mindful of risks stemming from people – foreigners and Chinese nationals – traveling back to China from affected regions.
The U.S. has counted at least 539 cases across 34 states — Connecticut reported its first case and Washington announced another patient being treated for coronavirus had died on Sunday — and the District of Columbia, and logged 22 deaths. Washington State, New York, California and Oregon have declared emergencies.
In Australia, two Sydney high schools closed on Monday after three students tested positive for COVID-19 as health authorities ramped up preparations for a larger outbreak with the number of infections in Australia exceeding 80. The announcements come only days after another high school in Sydney shut down when a 16-year-old student tested positive.
Globally, the coronavirus has killed about 3,600 and infected 107,000 as the outbreak reached more countries and caused hefty economic carnage and stock market losses, prompting central banks to ease monetary policies. Three people have died in Australia.
The state of Victoria also recorded a jump in the number of cases after two people who recently traveled to the United States and one who returned from Iran were diagnosed with COVID-19.
Saudi Arabia imposed on Sunday a temporary lockdown on its eastern oil-producing province of Qatif, home to most of its 15 coronavirus infections, and suspended schools and universities nationwide.
Four new cases, including an American arrival who visited Italy and the Philippines, took the tally to 15 on Monday, as the kingdom suspended travel with nine nations, from neighboring United Arab Emirates to Bahrain, Kuwait, and Egypt.
The interior ministry announced the lockdown in Qatif, which has a large Shi’ite Muslim population, after Saudi Arabia confirmed the four latest cases. It is not expected to have any impact on Saudi oil production, two industry sources said.
- France reported three new deaths bringing the total to 19, as the number of cases rose to 1,126
- Gatherings of more than 1,000 people have been banned in France
- The authorities in Spain announced on Sunday that three more people diagnosed with coronavirus had died in Madrid, raising the number of coronavirus fatalities in the country to 13. There are now over 500 cases, the authorities said.
- Israel is considering broadening entry restrictions to include travellers from all countries
- The U.S. Army suspended travel to and from Italy and South Korea
- Switzerland’s total reached 281
Read more via Reuters/AA/Sky News
