Egypt’s Health Ministry on Tuesday recorded 970 new coronavirus cases which now brings the country’s total up to 151,723, ministry spokesperson Khaled Megahed announced.
The total number of COVID-19-related deaths in Egypt is now 8,304, after the ministry announced that 55 persons recently died.
Egypt’s total number of fully-recovered cases has also risen to 119,635, after 423 patients were discharged from quarantine at isolation hospitals.
In March last year, The Egyptian government imposed strict precautionary measures to limit the outbreak and spreading of coronavirus. The measures included banning large gatherings, and closing restaurants, theatres, and cinemas, and a curfew.
Egypt like any other African countries has officially entered the second wave of the pandemic, after it witnessed a steady rise of cases in November and December.
Although the North African country has witnessed a decline in new case in January, the health ministry and government officials continue to urge the public to adhere to precautionary measures against the virus.
In late December, The Ministry of Education decided it had become necessary for schools to revert to online classes again 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 sit for their first-term exams.
According to the country’s Health Minister Hala Zayed.Egypt, Egypt has received doses of China’s Sinopharm vaccine, and more shipments are expected.
On Monday the minister said the country will receive 20 per cent of its vaccines needs via the AstraZeneca vaccine from Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance within two or three weeks.
Egypt’s Health Ministry is also expecting shipment of Russia’s Sputnik-V vaccine. It signed for 25 million doses back in September, and clinical trials of the vaccine will commence once the shipment arrives.
Egypt plans to roll out its vaccination campaign come the beginning of February, starting with the elderly, healthcare workers, and those with underlying health conditions.