The recent increase in the number of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) infections in Egypt was anticipated, according to Dr Mohamed Awad Tag El-Din, Advisor to the President for Health and Preventive Affairs.
Tag El-din added that there are no indications that Egypt is experiencing a new wave of infections from the novel virus.
In televised statements on Tuesday evening, he added, “We cannot say it’s a new wave of the infection, for the simple reason that the first wave has not ended yet.”
He explained that we can talk about a new wave if the virus disappeared completely before re-emerging.
On Wednesday, the Ministry of Health reported 129 new coronavirus cases, and 26 new deaths. The country’s total number of confirmed cases reached 95,963 with 5,085 fatalities. A total of 55,901 cases have recovered and been discharged from quarantine facilities at hospitals.
Tag El-Din attributed the recent increase of COVID-19 cases to several reasons, including the movement of people between rural and urban settings as they gathered for the Eid al-Adha holiday celebrations.
The high density of holiday-makers and internal tourism that is currently being seen at resorts on the North Coast, as well as the continued use of public transport, have also impacted case numbers.
Tag El-Din noted that Russia is currently undertaking advanced work on a new vaccine for the virus, with the country’s recently announcing it is in the third stage of trials.
The Egyptian health official’s remarks came in response to the Russian announcement, on Tuesday, that it would begin production on its new vaccine against the coronavirus in two weeks.
Russia’s health authorities stressed that the vaccine had a proven effectiveness in providing people with immunity against the virus.
Meanwhile, Khaled Mogahed, Spokesperson for Egypt’s Ministry of Health, said on Wednesday that the government is in negotiations with pharmaceutical manufacturers, Pfizer, to secure 20% of its needs of a US vaccine against the virus.
