Photo taken on March 16, 2020 shows a plane of EgyptAir at the Cairo International Airport in Cairo, Egypt. Photo: Xinhua

The 108 passengers of two flights from Egypt to China who were tested positive for COVID-19 before boarding were not on board, according to a notice from the Chinese Embassy in Egypt published on Tuesday.

The embassy clarified erroneous reports, indicating that the 108 passengers were not on board the flights to China. Their trip to China was suspended, the notice said.

The two flights from Cairo to Hangzhou and Chengdu, on June 15 and 18 respectively, would have carried 484 passengers. However, 108 tested positive for COVID-19 in Cairo before boarding and the embassy made the proper arrangements to accommodate them in accordance with the epidemic prevention and control regulations.

The passengers that tested positive for COVID-19 "neither got a green health code (that indicates one is qualified to fly to China), nor did they board the planes ," the embassy said, highlighting that this control measure "effectively prevented the importation of the virus." 

The two flights carrying the remaining passengers who tested negative for COVID-19 arrived safely in China, said the embassy.

Since February, all flights from Sichuan Airlines and Egyptair to China from Cairo have implemented strict public health management procedures before boarding, the embassy said. 

Before boarding, all passengers flying to China must stay in isolated rooms at designated hotels in Cairo for observation for three days and be tested for COVID-19. Only those with negative test results are able to board the flights to China, the embassy explained.