Egypt Reports Highest Daily Virus Toll

A police officer wearing a protective face mask stands guard next to a statue called ‘Egypt's Renaissance’ during Ramadan, in Giza, May 16, 2020.(Reuters)
A police officer wearing a protective face mask stands guard next to a statue called ‘Egypt's Renaissance’ during Ramadan, in Giza, May 16, 2020.(Reuters)
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Egypt Reports Highest Daily Virus Toll

A police officer wearing a protective face mask stands guard next to a statue called ‘Egypt's Renaissance’ during Ramadan, in Giza, May 16, 2020.(Reuters)
A police officer wearing a protective face mask stands guard next to a statue called ‘Egypt's Renaissance’ during Ramadan, in Giza, May 16, 2020.(Reuters)

Egypt on Tuesday registered 720 new coronavirus cases, the health ministry said in a statement, its highest daily toll since detecting the first confirmed case in February.

The new cases brought the total infections to 13,484 cases, the ministry added in a statement.

The country's former daily record was 535 cases on Monday.

Egypt recorded 14 deaths on Tuesday, the statement said bringing the total fatalities to 659. Nearly 3,750 people recovered and discharged from isolation hospitals.

Egypt extended a halt to all international passenger flights to curb the spread of the coronavirus, Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly said in a statement on Tuesday.

Flights at Egyptian airports were suspended on March 19, and the stoppage will continue until further notice, the statement said.

The country will bring forward the start of its curfew by four hours to 5 pm and halt public transport from May 24 for six days during the Eid al-Fitr holiday, as it seeks to curb the outbreak.

Eid al-Fitr, which begins on the weekend, marks the end of the holy fasting month of Ramadan.



Palestinian Authority at Risk of Collapse, Norway Says

Foreign Minister of Norway Espen Barth Eide attends the annual Kultaranta Talks -debate session on foreign and security policy at the Presidential Palace in Helsinki, Finland June 13, 2024. (Lehtikuva/Markku Ulander via Reuters)
Foreign Minister of Norway Espen Barth Eide attends the annual Kultaranta Talks -debate session on foreign and security policy at the Presidential Palace in Helsinki, Finland June 13, 2024. (Lehtikuva/Markku Ulander via Reuters)
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Palestinian Authority at Risk of Collapse, Norway Says

Foreign Minister of Norway Espen Barth Eide attends the annual Kultaranta Talks -debate session on foreign and security policy at the Presidential Palace in Helsinki, Finland June 13, 2024. (Lehtikuva/Markku Ulander via Reuters)
Foreign Minister of Norway Espen Barth Eide attends the annual Kultaranta Talks -debate session on foreign and security policy at the Presidential Palace in Helsinki, Finland June 13, 2024. (Lehtikuva/Markku Ulander via Reuters)

The Palestinian Authority could collapse in the coming months, Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide said on Monday, citing a lack of funding, continuing violence and the fact that half a million Palestinians are not allowed to work in Israel.

"The situation is extremely dire. The Palestinian Authority, with whom we work closely, are warning us that they might be collapsing this summer," Barth Eide told Reuters.

"If it collapses, you could end up having another Gaza, which would be terrible for everybody, including the people of Israel," he added.

Norway chairs the international donor group to the Palestinians and is a backer of the PA.