Egypt’s Health Ministry on Wednesday confirmed 1,151 new coronavirus cases, up from 1,140 on Tuesday. It also reported 43 deaths and 876 recovered cases.
There have now been a total of 257,725 confirmed cases, 14,850 deaths, and 188,567 recovered cases in the country.
In response to climbing case numbers, the Egyptian cabinet has announced that from May 6 until the end of the month, all restaurants, cafés, shops, and malls must close at 9 pm to prevent further spread of the virus.
Cairo, Giza, Fayoum, Minya, and Sohag are the five governorates with the highest infection rates, according to Health Minister Hala Zayed.
Doctors and officials have warned the public to abide by coronavirus precautionary measures, stating that social distancing is just as important as wearing a mask.
The Health Ministry has denied rumors that the mutated strain of the virus found in India has made its way to Egypt, stressing that security at all entry ports is on high alert for possible cases.
Furthermore, increasing reports of black fungus infections associated with the virus have been denied by the ministry.
Egypt’s vaccination campaign that began in January is still working to vaccinate medical staff, people over the age of 65, and those with chronic illnesses, but registration for the jab on the ministry’s website is open to all.
The ministry reported in mid-May that it has vaccinated 1.3 million people so far.
Egypt is currently using China’s Sinopharm vaccine and the UK’s AstraOxford vaccine, and it has plans to soon begin locally manufacturing China’s Sinovac vaccine and Russia’s Sputnik-V.
___
IMAGE: Customers shop amid the coronavirus pandemic inside Maadi City Center, in the Cairo suburb of Maadi, Egypt October 5, 2020.
