Egypt’s Health Ministry on Tuesday confirmed 640 new coronavirus cases, up from 631 on Monday. The ministry also reported 44 deaths and 322 recovered cases.
Egypt has now reported 192,195 confirmed cases, 148,089 deaths, and 11,384 deaths.
A third wave of the virus is coming, warned President Sisi’s health adviser Mohamed Tag El Din, forecasting that celebrations during the holy month of Ramadan will likely lead to an increase in cases.
The Egyptian Cabinet also announced on Sunday that all outdoor concerts, festivals, and cultural events may operate at 50 percent capacity.
Egypt launched its vaccination campaign on January 24. The Health Ministry is currently working to vaccinate medical staff, people over the age of 65, and those with chronic illnesses. The ministry has opened registration for the jab online.
The vaccine will 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 for its campaign will soon receive a shipment of six million doses of the UK’s AstraOxford vaccine.
The ministry also plans to employ Russia’s Sputnik-V vaccine, once it makes its way to Cairo.
AstraOxford and Sputnik-V received emergency approval from the Egyptian Drug Authority on February 24.
So far, 100 million doses of the vaccine have been secured by the ministry, which is enough to vaccinate roughly half of Egypt’s population.
IMAGE: A man receives a vaccine against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Baghdad, Iraq March 2, 2021. REUTERS/Khalid al-Mousily
