Egypt confirms 12 new coronavirus cases on a cruise boat

Egypt’s health ministry has confirmed 12 more cases of coronavirus among occupants of a cruise boat on the River Nile.

The boat was heading to the southern city of Aswan from Luxor, according to state TV reports.

Egypt reported Africa’s first coronavirus case and had previously reported three other cases with one fully recovered after treatment.

So far Egypt’s number of confirmed cases has risen to 15 with the latest new reporting putting the total number of cases in Africa above 35.

Egypt (15), Algeria (17) and Nigeria (1) Tunisia (1) Morocco (1), South Africa (1) and Senegal (4) are the cases so far.

Already the impact of the outbreak is being felt with African Airlines reportedly losing $400m due to suspension and cancellation of flights to and from China since the outbreak of the coronavirus.

Most airlines suspended and even canceled flights to and from China in February when the outbreak became serious.

Airlines like South African Airways, Royal Air Maroc, Air Tanzania, Air Mauritius, EgyptAir, RwandAir and Kenya Airways announced the suspension of flights last month.

Last year the airlines posted losses of $100m and this year’s figure could be higher due to the current outbreak.