Egypt’s Health Ministry on Friday confirmed 1,197 new coronavirus cases, 56 new deaths, and 556 recoveries. The country has now reported a total of 243,317 cases, 14,206 deaths, and 179,817 recovered cases. The Head of the Ministry of Health’s Scientific Committee to Combat Coronavirus Hossam Hosny, stressed that the authorities are taking strict measures to prevent the arrival of the Indian virus strain to Egypt. During phone-in on Friday with al-Oula channel of the state-TV, Hosny said that all Egyptian ports are at high-alert to prevent the entry of anyone suspected to carry the Indian coronavirus strain. The Indian strain is severe, has a high mortality rate, and is resistant to vaccines, he warned.