Egypt’s Health Ministry on Sunday confirmed 608 new coronavirus cases, bringing the country’s total up to 178,151, ministry spokesperson Khaled Megahed announced.
The total number of COVID-19-related deaths has now reached 10,353 nationwide, after the ministry announced 55 deaths.
And 543 patients were discharged from quarantine at isolation hospitals, raising Egypt’s total number of fully-recovered cases to 137,837.
Egypt’s second wave hit its peak on December 30, when the health ministry reported 1,411 new cases. Case numbers experienced a sharp decline in January, but are now on the rise again.
The daily death count has remained consistent since the onset of the second wave.
Government officials continue to urge 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 doses.
The ministry is currently using China’s Sinopharm vaccine and has received doses of the UK’s AstraOxford vaccine. Another shipment is due by the end of February.
The first doses, like in the rest of the world, are reserved for healthcare workers, the elderly, and at-risk persons.
