Skip to main content

Egypt closes school after contact between parent and coronavirus-infected tourist

Students and staff at Cairo school are ordered to self-isolate for 14 days as total coronavirus cases reported in Egypt total 67 so far
A municipality worker cleans lamp posts amid a sandstorm and coronavirus fears outside the Luxor Temple in Egypt on Thursday (AFP)

Egypt’s Ministry of Education shut down a school in Cairo on Thursday, ordering students and staff to self-isolate after learning that a parent had come into contact with a tourist infected with coronavirus.

The City International School in Zamalek was closed as “a precautionary measure” for the next 14 days, the incubation period of the virus, as the ministry tracks relatives of the parent, according to a ministry statement.

Panic in Luxor: Coronavirus outbreak in Egypt found to be centred on ancient city
Read More »

Stay informed with MEE's newsletters

Sign up to get the latest alerts, insights and analysis, starting with Turkey Unpacked

 

The ministry also said it had detected a new potential case, presumably referring to the parent, but did not provide further details.

“The decision has been made in light of the ministry’s keenness on the safety of students,” the ministry said.

Egypt has reported 67 cases of coronavirus, also known as COVID-19, since February. 

The outbreak in Egypt has so far been concentrated in Luxor, with most cases detected on a Nile River cruise ship

The city has been semi-lockdowned since Monday as the health ministry tracks potential cases to contain the spread of the virus. 

The education ministry did not clarify on Thursday whether the parent of the student in Cairo had been in contact with a tourist that visited Luxor.

Middle East Eye delivers independent and unrivalled coverage and analysis of the Middle East, North Africa and beyond. To learn more about republishing this content and the associated fees, please fill out this form. More about MEE can be found here.