Egypt records highest single-day coronavirus count in months
The surge in cases led the government to impose a ban on New Year's Eve celebrations across the North African country.
Egypt has recorded its highest single-day COVID-19 count in months, as the government sought to curb infections by canceling New Year’s Eve gatherings across the country.
Health Minister Hala Zayed announced 911 confirmed cases and 42 deaths from the virus on Wednesday, raising Egypt’s total number of cases since the pandemic began to 127,970 and 7,209 deaths. The number of cases has been rising steadily since the end of October and spiked in recent weeks, she said.
In response to the surge, Egyptian Prime Minister Mustafa Madbouly announced a ban on New Year’s Eve celebrations across the country.
"There will be no New Year's celebrations or gatherings as part of the precautionary measures taken to confront the coronavirus," Madbouly said. The Egyptian government is “doing everything it can not to order a complete lockdown to avoid the impact of such a move on the economy and consequently on the livelihood of citizens."
