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