The Egyptian Ministry of Health and Population on Wednesday confirmed 1,022 new coronavirus cases, up from 996 on Tuesday, ministry spokesperson Khaled Megahed announced.
The ministry also confirmed 59 virus-related deaths and 760 recovered cases.
Egypt has now reported a total of 153,741 cases, 121,072 recovered cases, and 8,421 deaths.
Egypt has officially entered the second wave of the pandemic, after cases rose steadily throughout November and December.
Government officials continue to urge the public to adhere to precautionary measures against the virus, and authorities have been instructed to strictly enforce Egypt’s mask mandate, which applies to all indoor public spaces and public transportation.
Anyone caught in these spaces without a mask is subject to an instant LE50 fine, and restaurants and cafes breaking capacity rules are subject to an instant LE4,000 fine.
The Ministry of Education decided in late December to once again shift classroom learning back online and postpone exams ahead of the mid-year vacation that starts on January 16 and goes until February 20.
Once students return from vacation, they will take the first-term exams.
Egypt has received doses of China’s Sinopharm vaccine, and is expecting more shipments, according to Health Minister Hala Zayed.
The minister said on Monday that the country will receive 20 percent of its vaccines needs via the AstraZeneca vaccine from Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance within two or three weeks.
The Health Ministry is also waiting on a shipment of Russia’s Sputnik-V vaccine. It signed for 25 million doses of the jab back in September, and will begin clinical trials of the vaccine as soon as it arrives.
The country plans to roll out its vaccination campaign at the beginning of February, beginning with the elderly, healthcare workers, and those with underlying health conditions.
