The Egyptian Health Ministry and WHO confirmed 12 new cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection on March 6. The infected persons were among the Egyptian staff aboard a Nile River cruise ship, travelling from Aswan to Luxor. This ship is variously known as the MS River Anuket or Asara. All those who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 did not show any symptoms of the disease. According to tests, the virus spread from a Taiwanese-American female tourist on the ship.

On Saturday, health authorities announced that 45 people on board had tested positive, and that the ship had been placed in quarantine at a dock in Luxor. (ILKHA)