Egypt’s health ministry has announced that 110 new coronavirus cases have been detected and nine people have died from the virus on Wednesday.

The total number of cases has now reached 1,560 and the number of fatalities is up to 103.

The ministry added in a statement that 29 more patients – 27 Egyptians and two foreigners – have fully recovered and left isolation hospitals on Wednesday.

The number of people whose test results have turned from positive to negative so far has reached 439, among whom 305 have fully recovered and left isolation hospitals.

The newly detected cases are Egyptians, with the exception of two foreigners, and all are receiving treatment in quarantine hospitals as per the World Health Organisation’s guidelines.

Earlier today, Egypt extended a nationwide night-time curfew by two weeks in an attempt to stop the spread of the virus as the country’s infection tally continues to rise.

The country also extended other preventative measures including the closure of schools and universities and the suspension of international flight for the same period.

In a televised press briefing earlier today, the prime minister said the current infection count in Egypt is in line with the government’s projections, adding that "there will be increases in the number of infections in the coming two or three weeks."

He also warned of the doubling of the infection rates, saying, “If the number of cases doubles, this would mean we are approaching a scenario similar to that of countries where things have gone out of control.”