Egypt’s Health Ministry on Tuesday confirmed 633 new coronavirus cases, bringing the country’s total number of confirmed cases up to 175,059 according to ministry spokesperson Khaled Megahed.
The tally for COVID-19-related deaths has now reached 10,101 nationwide, after the ministry announced 51 deaths.
And 321 patients were discharged from quarantine at isolation hospitals, raising Egypt’s total number of fully-recovered cases to 135,670.
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.
