Egypt approaches third coronavirus wave

Egypt has recorded 254,984 Covid-19 cases to date, with 187,446 people subsequently recovering while 14,766 have died of coronavirus related complications.

JOHANNESBURG, May 25 (ANA) – Egypt is on the brink of its third Covid-19 wave as infections in the North African country continue to rise.

According to online newspaper Egypt Independent, health ministry official Mohamed al-Nady said case numbers remained high and hospitals were gradually filling up with Covid-19 patients.

In a televised address, Nady appealed to citizens to adhere to precautionary measures by wearing masks, practising physical distancing and washing hands regularly, the publication reported on Monday.

He added that it was normal for side effects to appear after taking the vaccine against the coronavirus, but their absence did not mean the drug was weak or ineffective.

Nady highlighted that the majority of those who had received the vaccine in Egypt did feel side effects.

Some countries, such as the United Arab Emirates, have announced that they will give another dose of China’s Sinopharm vaccine to those who have not developed a strong enough immune response after taking two doses, according to Egypt Independent.

Meanwhile, Chinese-based English-language cable TV news service CGTN reported on Monday that Egyptian health authorities had received a shipment from China that included raw bio-material from Sinovac.

According to the channel, the bio-material will help Egypt begin producing the Chinese vaccine domestically, making it the first African nation to make Covid-19 vaccines.

The latest official data shows Egypt has recorded 254,984 Covid-19 cases, with 187,446 people subsequently recovering while 14,766 have died of coronavirus related complications.

– African News Agency (ANA), Editing by Stella Mapenzauswa