Egypt’s Health Ministry on Wednesday confirmed 521 new coronavirus cases, bringing the country’s total number up to 167,013, ministry spokesperson Khaled Megahed announced.
The total number of COVID-19-related deaths has now reached 9,407 nationwide, after the ministry announced 47 deaths.
And 407 patients were discharged from quarantine at isolation hospitals, raising Egypt’s total number of fully-recovered cases to 130,514.
The country has officially entered the second wave of the pandemic, after cases rose steadily throughout November and December.
The second wave hit its peak on December 30, when the health ministry reported 1,411 new cases. Since then, the case count has plunged.
Government officials continue to urge the public to adhere to precautionary measures against the virus, and the Egyptian Cabinet has called on authorities to strictly enforce the country’s mask mandate, which applies to all public transportation and indoor public spaces.
Egypt launched its vaccination campaign on January 24, however, officials are predicting a slow rollout as the country waits for the arrival of vaccine orders.
