Health min.: Egypt contracts to receive Bamlanivimab/etesevimab for coronavirus treatment

CAIRO – 5 August 2021: Health Minister Hala Zayed said Egypt has contracted to obtain the Bamlanivimab and etesevimab medicines, whose combination proved effective in treating mild and moderate coronavirus cases.

Zayed's remarks came during a cabinet meeting on Thursday to review the latest developments on coronavirus and the pandemic situation at the local and global levels, as well as the state's efforts to provide Covid19 vaccines and QR code certificates.

Bamlanivimab/etesevimab is a combination of two monoclonal antibodies administered as a treatment for coronavirus.

Zayed said Egypt has conducted a study as part of clinical trials with the World Health Organization on the Bamlanivimab/etesevimab medicines.

She noted that the study revealed the medicines’ effectiveness with the mild and moderate coronavirus cases.

This effectiveness included easing the complications that require coronavirus patients to be moved to hospitals and also decreased deaths.

The Bamlanivimab/etesevimab doses will be received soon and added to the ministry’s treatment protocol, Zayed added.

Zayed said that the country's strategic stock of medical oxygen stands at 3.3 million liters.

During the meeting, the health minister briefed Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouli on the updated COVID-19 transmission map released by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

She noted that Egypt was ranked level two on the CDC map of COVID-19 transmission levels, meaning that the country is at medium risk of the pandemic spread.

Additional reporting by MENA