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Ahram Online
“Egypt received 1.27 million doses of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine from Spain via the COVAX initiative”, the Spanish embassy in Cairo announced on Thursday.
The embassy said, “the shipment comes as part of a COVID-19 vaccine grant, which was announced by Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez in his official visit to Egypt early December”.
Sanchez had announced that Egypt would receive a total of 4.48 million vaccine doses from Spain.
“Around 51 million doses are ready for use, and about 48 million single doses have been administered”, acting Minister of Health, Khaled Abdel-Ghaffar, noted earlier this week.
Egypt has reported a total of 366,534 infections and 20,919 fatalities, since the outbreak in February 2020.
On Wednesday, the cabinet activated a set of COVID-19 regulations to stem the spread of the new Omicron variant. The new regulations include mandate wearing facemasks on public or private transportation, and in enclosed and open public venues where social distancing rules are difficult to be maintained.
The decision applies to government institutions, banks, houses of worship, stores, malls, cinemas, theatres, schools, universities and other venues. Unvaccinated individuals and employees visiting government institutions are required to present a negative PCR test certificate.
“Coffee shops, restaurants, hostels, and other tourist attractions are not allowed to serve shishas (water pipes)”, according to the decree. The decision also imposed a ban on weddings and funeral services in indoor public places, including inside houses of worship. It also banned religious and popular festivals in both open and enclosed public spaces.
Funerals and prayer services can be held inside large worship houses, as long as attendees adhere to all anti-coronavirus measures. However, visits to mosques and shrines which can attract crowds are also prohibited.
“Entry into Egypt by air, land or sea is limited to fully vaccinated arrivals with an approved vaccine by the World Health Organization or the Egyptian Drug Authority. Otherwise, arrivals must present a negative PCR test certificate or undergo testing upon arrival. The decision excludes arrivals under the age of 12 years old”, the decree stipulated.
Inciting people to violate or disrupt the measures carries a punishment of one year in prison and a fine of no more than £E10,000. However, the law allows reconciliation, with violators paying a third of the maximum penalty.
