Egypt’s Ministry of Health and Population on Wednesday reported 788 new coronavirus cases, 37 deaths, and 788 recoveries.
A total of 309,135 cases have been disclosed in Egypt, alongside 17,545 deaths and 261,190 recoveries.
The country’s fourth wave of the virus is in full force, with daily case figures ten times higher than what was recorded at the end of July.
Moreover, the Health Ministry has stated that official figures likely only represent 10 percent of actual cases.
While Egypt’s Supreme Committee for the Management of Coronavirus Crisis lifted some COVID-19 restrictions back in June, there is talk of reinstating some measures.
For now, restaurants, cafes, shops, and malls are operating during summer working hours and at 75 percent capacity.
Any facility that violates summer hours will receive a fine and be subject to close for two weeks. Repeat violators will be shut down for a month, the committee warned.
Furthermore, restaurants and cafes may not serve shisha (hookah), religious celebrations are banned, and weddings must be held in open areas.
Under the orders of President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, the ministry is allocating efforts to vaccinate university students, administrative workers, and those in the country’s healthcare sector.
The Ministry of Health reiterated a warning against a fourth wave of the coronavirus in Egypt, stressing that everyone should adhere to precautionary measures.
Over 13 million citizens have now received the first dose of the coronavirus vaccine while the number of citizens who received the second dose exceeded seven million, Health Minister Hala Zayed announced during a cabinet meeting on Tuesday.
The meeting reviewed developments in the current situation of coronavirus infection rates and vaccination rates, and the position of manufacturing vaccines locally.
Egypt has provided many vaccines either through the VACSERA factories or imported vaccines. There are 512 vaccination centers for citizens in addition to vaccination centers for travelers, as well as thousands of medical mobile teams and convoys that target citizens in different gathering places.
Additionally, presidential health advisor Mohamed Awad Tag al-Din said in September that Egypt will be receiving 25 million doses of Johnson & Johnson’s one-shot Janssen vaccine over the next four months.
Health Minister Zayed also held an online meeting in September with representatives of the US company Moderna to discuss the possibility of locally producing its coronavirus vaccine at VACSERA.
Study abroad students will be vaccinated, as well as university students that are 18 years and older, she said, stressing the importance of obtaining both doses before the beginning of the academic year.
Photo illustration: A health worker draws a dose of the AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine. Photo credit: Reuters
