The Egyptian Ministry of Health and Population reported 961 new coronavirus cases on Monday, down from 993 on Sunday.
The ministry also announced 52 virus-related deaths and 312 recovering cases.
Egypt has now recorded a total of 150,753 confirmed cases, 119,212 recovered cases, and 8,249 virus-related deaths.
The country has officially entered the second wave of the pandemic, after cases rose steadily throughout November and December.
Although January has witnessed a decline in new case numbers, government officials continue to urge the public to adhere to precautionary measures against the virus.
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. Anyone caught in these areas without a mask is subject to an instant fine of LE50.
Restaurants and cafes that break the government’s 50 percent occupancy limit will also receive an immediate fine of LE4,000 and be subject to a one-week closure.
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.
