dsglkdksl Egypt’s Health Ministry announced 521 new coronavirus cases on Thursday, bringing the country’s total number of confirmed cases up to 164,282.
The total number of COVID-19-related deaths has now reached 9,169 nationwide, after the ministry announced 54 deaths on Thursday.
And 477 patients were discharged from quarantine at isolation hospitals, raising Egypt’s total number of fully-recovered cases to 128,440.
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.
Health Minister Hala Zayed announced on Sunday that the vaccine will cost a maximum of LE200 for most Egyptians, and will be offered for free to healthcare workers and those receiving financial assistance from the government.
The ministry is currently using China’s Sinopharm vaccine and expects to receive doses of the UK’s AstraOxford vaccine in the coming period.
