Two senior Egyptian military officials have died from the Chinese coronavirus, according to official government statements released Sunday and Monday.
Major General Shafee Abdel Halim Dawoud “died while fighting the [Chinese] coronavirus,” state television said, without providing further details. Egyptian state newspaper Al-Ahram reported the broadcast announcement on Monday.
The previous day, Major General Khaled Shaltout died from the Chinese coronavirus, the Egyptian military said in a statement on Sunday. Maj. Gen. Shaltout reportedly contracted the virus while participating in nationwide sterilization efforts by the military to stop the spread of the Chinese coronavirus.
Security sources told Agence France-Press (AFP) that other high-ranking military officials have also tested positive, Al Arabiya reported on Monday.
Egypt has deployed military personnel to its major cities to disinfect public institutions and squares. On Saturday, military spokesman Tamer el-Refai posted a video to social media depicting soldiers in protective gear disinfecting major sites in Cairo. In the footage, workers scrubbed the Egyptian capital’s metro station, as well as Tahrir Square, known for the 2011 revolt that toppled former Egyptian leader Hosni Mubarak.
Maj. Gen. Shafee Dawood was the highest-ranking Egyptian official to die from the Chinese coronavirus to date. He served as head of major infrastructure projects at the military engineering authority. Maj. Gen. Shaltout was the army’s chief of water management. Egypt had 366 infections and 19 deaths from the Chinese coronavirus at press time Tuesday.