The nation’s talk shows were back last night with all the latest on the covid-19 outbreak: Min Masr’s Amr Khalil covered the Health Ministry’s statement yesterday that announced 40 fresh cases, bringing the total number to 576, and six new fatalities that raised the overall death toll to 36 (watch, runtime: 1:34) (watch, runtime: 7:12). El Hekaya’s Amr Adib spoke with Health Ministry spokesman Khaled Megahed (watch, runtime: 25:33) to cover the updates, and chatted to the prime minister’s media advisor Hany Younis, who said that the prime minister has instructed local industries to produce ventilators and promised them government support, but no details or timeframe were discussed (watch, runtime: 2:26). Adib also covered the World Health Organization’s report which reported favorably on Egypt’s handling of its covid-19 outbreak (watch, runtime: 2:45).

Egyptians stuck abroad: Masaa DMC’s Eman El Hosary spoke with Immigration Minister Nabila Makram who said that the government is working with embassies abroad on tallying up the number of Egyptians struggling to return home. She said that four planes were arriving to Cairo today from the UK as well as another on Tuesday, and a flight is being arranged to repatriate Egyptians in France on Tuesday. She added that many honeymooners are stranded in South Asian countries and efforts are underway to ensure they don’t incur fines from their extended stays until they return (watch, runtime: 8:07). Min Masr’s Amr Khalil (watch, runtime: 17:25) had the same report.

Covid-19 could peak this week -Zayed: Health Minister Hala Zayed suggested to Adib on Friday night that the virus could peak this week. She noted that in other countries the outbreak has tended to reach its height after the sixth or seventh weeks, and that Egypt is now entering its seventh week since the first case was discovered. Because of this, the following two weeks will be crucial if Egypt is to finally get a handle on the crisis and start flattening the curve (watch, runtime: 26:14).

Rumors debunked: El Hosary covered the cabinet statement denying rumors circulating on social media that claimed that the government’s call for workers to stay home if they can meant that the state will pay private sector salaries (watch, runtime: 1:02). Min Masr’s Amr Khalil mentioned the same posts as well as others that claimed government workers would be getting raises and that petroleum prices were dropping. (watch, runtime: 2:54)

Relief for farmers: Adib spoke with Agriculture Minister El Sayid El Qusair who discussed the Central Bank of Egypt’s efforts to assist farmers which include suspending loan payments for six months (watch, runtime: 4:58).