Egypt received on Monday its citizens arriving from coronavirus-stricken Wuhan city in China.
The repatriated Egyptian nationals were received at al-Alamein International airport, northwestern Cairo, amid strict preventive measures.
They will be quarantined for two-weeks, estimated to be virus’ incubation period, at El-Negelah Central Hospital in Marsa Matrouh.
Health Minister Dr. Hala Zayed said in a press statement that a preventive measure plan was implemented in accordance with guidelines of the World Health Organization (WHO).
It includes self-sterilized ambulances at the airport’s runaways and a quarantine period for all nationals, as well as flight crew members and the accompanying medical team.
She pointed out that Cairo International Airport is one of the world’s first three airports to take global preventive measures to confront the virus.
“What has been circulated about the transmission of the virus by birds and animals to humans are rumors that have not been confirmed by the WHO so far,” she explained.
Zayed affirmed that the WHO has provided Egypt with the equipment to test whether these citizens are carriers of the virus.
“Egypt is able to protect its citizens and provide them with all medical care,” Zayed noted, adding that it is also capable of taking all necessary measures to prevent the entry of any epidemic or infectious diseases to Egypt.
Spokesman for the country’s health ministry Khalid Mujahid said the minister oversaw all preventive measures since the arrival of the Egyptian nationals to their homeland at the airport runway until their transfer to the quarantines.