During a Cabinet meeting held today 26 August, and chaired by Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, Health Minister Hala Zayed reviewed the latest on the coronavirus situation in Egypt. Even though numbers of daily cases now have dropped to around 140 from a peak of 1750 last July, Dr Zayed stressed that a second wave of coronavirus is directly related to the fake sense of security that induces people to feel the pandemic is over and thus relax their commitment to cautionary measures. Mr Madbouly said that, with this in I mind, and in order to avoid a second wave of COVID-19 in Egypt, the government still requires Egyptians to adhere to the cautionary measures, including wearing face masks and applying social distancing. He also stressed that those who fail to abide by the safety health measures decreed by the government will be penalised according to the law. He pointed out that quarantine hospitals are still in operation, ready to receive new cases.
The Minister of Health pointed out that a vaccine against COVID-19 would not stop spread of the virus, but would reduce the chance of contracting it, thus reducing its impact.
Last July, Dr Zayed had met with China’s Ambassador to Cairo, Liao Liqiang, to discuss cooperation between the Egyptian Holding Company for Production of Vaccines, Sera, and Drugs, known as VACSERA, and a Chinese firm conducting tests to produce a vaccine against coronavirus. She said that an agreement to manufacture the vaccine in Egypt, and for Egypt to become a hub for the production of the vaccine in Africa once the vaccine is developed, will be signed next September. She said that there was ongoing cooperation with the China regarding the vaccine and the treatment protocols.
Both the Premier and the Health Minister urged citizens to commit to the cautionary measures imposed by the State, including wearing face masks in public transportation vehicles and public places, and abiding by social distancing regulations in order to limit the chance of a second wave. Dr Zayed advised that media awareness campaigns related to health and cautionary measures should be intensified. She said that Egypt requires incoming travellers to hand evidence of having undergone PCR testing 72 hours prior to arrival, to proves they do not carry the virus.
Watani International
26 August 2020