Egypt’s Health Ministry on Monday confirmed 852 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the country’s total up to 217,186 ministry spokesperson Khaled Megahed announced.
The total number of COVID-19-related deaths is now 12,778 nationwide, after the ministry announced 40 deaths.
And 333 patients were discharged from quarantine at isolation hospitals, raising Egypt’s total number of fully-recovered cases to 163,812.
Case numbers began creeping up in March, and Egyptian officials have speculated that a third wave of the virus will hit during or after the month of Ramadan, which began on April 13.
Doctors and officials have warned the public to abide by coronavirus precautionary measures during the holy month, stating that social distancing is just as important as wearing a mask.
Meanwhile, the virus continues to wreak havoc on business and tourism, with Alexandria reporting a meager 15 percent hotel occupancy rate. Additionally, 15 percent of the city’s restaurants have closed as a result of the pandemic.
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 vaccine is open to all.
The vaccine should cost no more than LE200 per person, Health Minister Hala Zayed announced, with low-income folks eligible to get their doses for free.
Egypt is currently using China’s Sinopharm vaccine and the UK’s AstraOxford vaccine. So far, 100 million doses have been secured by the ministry through the COVAX initiative, which is enough to vaccinate roughly half of Egypt’s population.
Egypt’s Health Ministry has also reported a 75.5 percent increase in recovery rates.
