Coronavirus spreads to Egypt as country confirms a ‘foreigner’ is now infected


The killer coronavirus has now spread to Egypt, with authorities saying a ‘foreigner’ is infected. 

The health ministry said in a statement that it had immediately informed the World Health Organization and had taken all necessary preventative measures. 

It did not give the nationality of the affected person or any other details.

The individual has been placed in quarantine. 

Egypt is believed to be the 28th country to record a case of the killer virus and it is the first in Africa. 

Experts and African leaders have expressed concern that should the virus spread to the continent, it could wreak havoc among less developed countries with fewer health resources. 

More than 64,000 cases of coronavirus have been diagnosed around the world and 1,363 people have died. 

Egypt is thought to be the 28th country to record a case of the killer coronavirus, which started in Wuhan, China. Pictured are medics in Wuhan treating patients in a makeshift hospital

Egypt is thought to be the 28th country to record a case of the killer coronavirus, which started in Wuhan, China. Pictured are medics in Wuhan treating patients in a makeshift hospital

Egypt is thought to be the 28th country to record a case of the killer coronavirus, which started in Wuhan, China. Pictured are medics in Wuhan treating patients in a makeshift hospital

China reported another spike in deaths and cases yesterday with 121 succumbing to the virus and 5,090 people catching it. 

The National Health Commission said 121 more deaths were recorded yesterday, as well as 5,090 new confirmed cases.

The number of reported cases has been rising more quickly after the hardest-hit province changed its method of counting them. 

There are now almost 64,000 confirmed cases in mainland China, of which 1,380 have died, according to the national body.

Hubei province is now including cases based on a physician’s diagnosis and before they have been confirmed by lab tests.  

The acceleration in the number of cases does not necessarily represent a sudden surge in new infections of the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

There are now almost 64,000 confirmed cases in mainland China after the country recorded 5,090 new cases yesterday

There are now almost 64,000 confirmed cases in mainland China after the country recorded 5,090 new cases yesterday

There are now almost 64,000 confirmed cases in mainland China after the country recorded 5,090 new cases yesterday

The National Health Commission said 121 more deaths were recorded, taking toll to 1,380

The National Health Commission said 121 more deaths were recorded, taking toll to 1,380

The National Health Commission said 121 more deaths were recorded, taking toll to 1,380

It comes as passengers endured hours of misery at Heathrow Airport this morning when up to eight planes were put on lockdown over coronavirus fears after passengers on board complained of symptoms of the deadly virus.

MailOnline understands a British Airways flight from Kuala Lumpur was held up on the tarmac for two hours when it landed at 6.45am after cabin crew grew concerned a Malaysian family ‘of around eight’ might have the contagious infection, now named SARS-CoV-2.

One passenger on the plane said that health workers in protective gowns and face masks came on board the BA34 flight and set up a screen around the family before evacuating everyone off the plane row by row.

However, airport sources dispute the length of the delay and say only one customer was suspected of having the contagious virus and was tended to on board.

Separately, travellers on the United Airlines Flight 901 from San Francisco were told by the captain to stay in their seats after landing at 9.30am because there was a suspected coronavirus sufferer on board.

Staff in hazmat suits were said to have got on board the British Airways flight from Kuala Lumpur this morning (thought to be pictured) and set up a privacy tent around an unwell family before evacuating everyone off the plane row by row

Staff in hazmat suits were said to have got on board the British Airways flight from Kuala Lumpur this morning (thought to be pictured) and set up a privacy tent around an unwell family before evacuating everyone off the plane row by row

Staff in hazmat suits were said to have got on board the British Airways flight from Kuala Lumpur this morning (thought to be pictured) and set up a privacy tent around an unwell family before evacuating everyone off the plane row by row

Andy West, from Henley-on-Thames, was on a different plane from San Francisco when it got put on lockdown (shown) this morning amid coronavirus fears

Andy West, from Henley-on-Thames, was on a different plane from San Francisco when it got put on lockdown (shown) this morning amid coronavirus fears

Andy West, from Henley-on-Thames, was on a different plane from San Francisco when it got put on lockdown (shown) this morning amid coronavirus fears

London’s Heathrow and Gatwick are the only two UK airports which still have direct flights from China landing – none are being operated by British airlines

Andy West, from Henley-on-Thames, who was on the United plane, told MailOnline passengers were warned by the pilot that they could be on the tarmac for a while because ‘seven other planes’ also had suspected cases.

He revealed staff on the flight took a passenger to the back of the plane without wearing any protective gear or face masks and waited for health officials in hazmat suits to come. Everyone was eventually allowed to disembark half-an-hour later.

The airport chaos illustrates the increasing disruption the virus is causing for travellers around the world, even where the risk of genuine infections is considerably lower than it is in the Far East.

Public Health England and Heathrow officials have so far refused to release any information about this morning’s incident, which may have affected hundreds of travellers. But United Airlines, a US company, confirmed someone ‘became unwell’ on board on the San Francisco flight.

The UK has been on red alert for more cases after the capital suffered its first confirmed patient on Wednesday and it emerged another patient had been to a transport conference in the capital before being diagnosed.