Egypt shortens quarantine period for citizens returning to the country

Egyptian citizens checking in for a repatriation flight from Kuwait. Photo: Xinhua

Faced with a shortage of places for quarantining Egyptians who return from abroad, the authorities have adopted an original — if dangerous — solution. To create more space, they have reduced the mandatory quarantine period from 14 days to seven.

Egyptian citizens who test negative for Covid-19 after returning from abroad are quarantined at designated hotels or university hostels. Thousands who became stranded in other countries are currently being repatriated and the health ministry says the shortened quarantine period, which came into effect this week, is intended to “reduce congestion” and “provide an opportunity” for all returnees to be compulsorily isolated (if only for a short time).

However, this increases the risk that some of them will develop the disease after being released — and thus infect others.

Medical evidence shows the incubation period for Covid-19 can vary widely from person to person. A recent research paper suggests the median incubation period is about five days. In other words, half of new cases will be detectable earlier and the other half will show up later. Research also suggests that after 11.5 days 97.5% of those who are going to develop symptoms will have done so, and a 14-day quarantine period is likely to cover 99% of all possible cases.

Egypt hasn’t officially abandoned the 14-day principle recommended by the World Health Organisation but in practice that is likely to be the effect of its decision.

After a week in compulsory quarantine, those who still test negative will be told to spend a further week in self-isolation at home. Many are unlikely to comply, either because their living conditions are not conducive to isolation or because the negative test results lead them to assume they are in the clear.

Finally arriving home after a long period of absence, they are also likely to be greeted in the traditional Egyptian way — with hugs from extended family and celebration parties.

Non-compliance with home isolation has become a serious problem in other Arab countries.

In Lebanon, one returnee received visitors while supposedly isolated at home and infected ten of them, and one of the visitors then…