Egypt revoked the press credentials of a journalist for The Guardian over a report suggesting that cases of coronavirus in the country are likely much higher than official statistics.
According to an official statement by the State Information Service (SIS), the government has also issued a warning to the New York Times's Cairo bureau chief Declan Walsh over tweets citing an article by British journalist Ruth Michaelson published Sunday in The Guardian citing Canadian epidemiologists who estimated Egypt's COVID-19 infections had surpassed 19,000.
It also demanded that the Guardian newspaper publish an apology for the article, which it described as "full of professional mistakes".
If the newspaper does not issue an apology, the SIS said it will withdraw the newspaper's permit to operate in the country.
“The correspondents' rush to promote incorrect data does not justify them relying on an unpublished… and scientifically unrecognized study," SIS said in a statement.
“It shows their intentional bad faith to harm Egyptian interests," said the SIS, which is responsible for foreign media accreditation.
Walsh later deleted the tweets following a backlash from Egyptians online. The North African country has officially reported 166 COVID-19 cases and four deaths, including two Germans and two Egyptians.
Authorities have warned of tough measures, including jail terms, for anyone who spreads false information concerning the virus.
On Tuesday, police arrested a “Muslim Brotherhood member" for allegedly publishing false information about the death toll of the virus.
