Egypt’s Health ministry denies reports on shortage of beds at hospitals

CAIRO – 27 April 2021: Egypt’s Ministry of Health and Population denied the audio recording circulated on a social media website alleging that hospitals are running out of beds for patients, the epidemiological situation is deteriorating in governorates, and that all university hostels have been inaugurated to receive patients.

“The audio recording is completely untrue, and is not related to the Ministry of Health and Population, nor to any of its sectors” Spokesman Khaled Megahed said.

He noted that about 45 percent of the hospitals’ bed capacity nationwide is available to receive coronavirus patients.

Megahed urged social media users to avoid publishing any information that may confuse the public opinion without asking the ministry’s official sources.

He also warned of using the ministry’s name to mislead the public opinion, stressing that all legal measures will be taken in this regard.

The Egyptian Holding Company for Biological Products and Vaccines (VACSERA) announce manufacturing both of Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine along with China’s Sinovac.

On Monday, Health Ministry, said that they are planning to turn Egypt into a hub for vaccines manufacturing after achieving local self-sufficiency.

Health Minster Hala Zayed said that as many as 40 million doses will be produced on an annual basis to meet domestic needs and export to Africa.

VACSERA will produce 100 million doses of Russia's Sputnik V Covid-19 vaccine annually, Zayed pointed out.

Zayed also added that private companies will be allowed to manufacture the vaccines that are 90 percent safe and effective.

She stressed that only one in 10 persons is at the risk of blood clots that may be linked with certain coronavirus vaccines.

Egypt has started its vaccination campaign in January, starting with the medical teams at quarantine hospitals, for being on top of priority groups in terms of vaccination.

Egypt has received Sinopharm and AstraZeneca vaccine doses. As on 1 April, Egypt received a shipment comprising 854,000 AstraZeneca vaccine doses, upping total number of the received vaccine to around 1.5 million doses.