Egypt Demanding Apologies for ‘Incorrect’ Reporting on Coronavirus

The Egyptian State Information Service is seeking apologies from The New York Times and The Guardian newspapers over the publication of claims that the country has close to 20,000 cases of COVID-19, the illness caused by coronavirus. As of Tuesday, the official count was 196 confirmed cases and six deaths. Reporters for the two papers cited figures published this week by a University of Toronto epidemiologist who estimated that there were as many as 19,300 cases in the North African nation. Egyptian authorities revoked the press credentials of the Guardian reporter, who included the figures in a story, and issued a reprimand to the reporter from the Times, who mentioned them in a tweet. Over 70 Egyptian scientists wrote to the president of the university, asking him to investigate Dr. Isaac Bogoch for “scientific misconduct,” saying they “reserve the right” to sue him as well as the institution.