Egypt reported its highest daily increase of coronavirus cases yet on Friday at 171 new infections, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 2,844, the health ministry said.



The death toll now stands at 205, with nine new fatalities on Friday, the ministry added.



Fifty patients, all Egyptian, have fully recovered and left isolation hospitals and quarantine facilities on Friday, bringing the total number of recoveries from the virus thus far to 646.



The number of cases who have retested negative, including those who have fully recovered, has now reached 891, ministry spokesman Khaled Megahed said.



All the new cases are Egyptians, and were detected through the ministry’s investigations and contact tracing protocols, Megahed added.



The number of coronavirus infections has been on the rise over the past four days, with 654 cases recorded from Tuesday through Friday.



Egyptian authorities have moved to shut down traditional celebrations of the Sham El-Nessim holiday on Monday, which typically involve family outings to beaches, parks and other public spaces.



All public transport has been suspended for the day, including trains, buses, and the Cairo metro, and all malls and non-essential shops will be closed.



Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly warned on Wednesday that authorities will use “the utmost force” to deal with attempts to breach the restrictive measures.



The country is currently under a nighttime curfew from 8pm to 6am.



Under the rules, all malls and shops -- except for pharmacies, supermarkets, grocery stores and bakeries -- must close at 5pm on weekdays and all day at weekends. Restaurants are restricted to delivery only.

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