Egypt: The Guardian press credentials revoked over publication of fake Coronavirus data

Egypt’s state information service (SIS) in charge of foreign media accreditation has stripped The Guardian of its press credentials and censured the New York Times for publishing false numbers on the Coronavirus in the country.

The Guardian local reporter Ruth Michaelson published on March 15, citing Canadian epidemiologists, that the infections of the fast-spreading disease exceeded 19,000, way higher than the 196 cases and six deaths officially reported by the time the article was released.

The New York Times Cairo Bureau Chief, Declan Walsh, circulated same figures on Tweeter but later deleted the tweet after a group of Egyptian scientists challenged the figures.

The SIS in a statement on Tuesday accused The Guardian and The New York Times of “bad faith” and plans to harm Egyptian interests.

“The correspondents’ rush to promote incorrect data does not justify them relying on an unpublished… and scientifically unrecognized study,” the SIS said in the statement.

Authorities have also taken measure to crackdown on fake news about the disease. In this vein, police reportedly arrested on Tuesday a “Muslim Brotherhood member” for allegedly publishing false information about the death toll.

Wednesday afternoon, four activists, including Booker-shortlisted novelist Ahdaf Soueif, were arrested in downtown Cairo where they staged a demonstration demanding the state to release prisoners over fears of a coronavirus outbreak in the country’s overcrowded jails.

The first country to report the COVID-19 in Africa, Egypt as of March 18 confirmed 12 new cases bringing the overall toll to 210 and six fatalities.