Advisor to Egypt's Minister of Health 'hid coronavirus diagnosis for two weeks'

The Egyptian Minister of Health's advisor for urgent and emergency care affairs Dr. Sharif Wadih said on Thursday that he had tested positive for the novel coronavirus, The New Arab's Arabic language service reported.

The advisor concealed the fact that he had coronavirus for two weeks.

Wadih is currently quarantining at home in Egypt after spending a period of time in hospital. 

Egypt's Health Minister Hala Zayed also self-isolated after two workers in her office tested positive for coronavirus.

Egypt's top medical union warned last month of a "complete collapse" of the country's health system, accusing the health ministry of negligence in failing to protect healthcare workers from coronavirus.

COVID-19 has killed more than 19 doctors and infected more than 350, according to the EMS, a body representing thousands of Egyptian doctors.

Egypt, the most populous Arab country, has recorded more than 29,000 COVID-19 cases and over 1,100 deaths, according to the John Hopkins tracker. 

There are reports that the real number of cases could be much higher.

The EMS called on the "executive, judicial and legislative" branches of government to force the health ministry to comply with its demands.

These included providing all doctors with personal protective equipment (PPE), training for dealing with coronavirus cases and testing for those with symptoms or who have come into contact with infected people.

Read more: Egypt pro-Sisi media launch revenge campaign against doctors after coronavirus complaints

Hospitals have been hit by a flight of doctors abroad in recent years while the frontline staff left behind face shortages of medical supplies and protective gear that heightens the risk of infection.

The country's 17 isolation hospitals reserved for novel coronavirus patients reached their maximum capacity at the start of May.

Earlier, Egypt had sent medical aid to countries including China Italy and the United States, angering many medical professionals, who complain about the lack of PPE domestically.

Agencies contributed to this report.

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