Egypt’s Minister of Health and Population Hala Zayed and Minister of Local Development Mahmoud Shaarawi have met with Egypt’s governors to follow up on preparations for the distribution of vaccines for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).
Ministry of Health and Population Spokesperson Khaled Mogahed said that Zayed announced an increase in the number of hospitals nationwide to address the pandemic, and to provide medical services to citizens. The rise in medical care facilities has been put into effect to cover all neighbourhoods across the country, as well as to facilitate citizens’ access to medical care and prevent overcrowding.
Mogahed also said that the meeting tackled the methods for distributing the vaccine, as facilities affiliated with the Ministry of Health will be responsible for providing the vaccine to citizens.
Zayed said that the vaccines will be available for the target groups through a registration website and a hotline.
She added that the priority segments for receiving the vaccine will be medical teams in isolation hospitals, in addition to patients suffering from cancer, kidney failure, those with chronic diseases among the elderly, and cardiovascular patients.
During the meeting, Shaarawi highlighted the importance of applying precautionary measures against the coronavirus nationwide.
The minister also noted the need for governors to follow the closing times for shops, restaurants, and malls, whilst noting the need to adhere to measures aimed at curbing the spread of the coronavirus, and punishing those who violate these measures.
He said that his Ministry’s Operations Room and Crisis Management entities had, in the last two days alone, detected more than 10,000 violations of precautionary measures put in place against the coronavirus.
Shaarawi had also directed for governors to continue implementing the cabinet’s decisions to close events halls and prohibit the holding of funerals and weddings in closed halls.
