Egypt ‘strongly participating’ in gloabl efforts to develop coronavirus vaccine: health official

CAIRO – 30 July 2020: Egypt is “strongly taking part” in the efforts to develop a coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine that will shortly be available, said head of the Health Ministry’s scientific committee to fight coronavirus.

This comes a month after the Egyptian Drug Authority earlier announced signing a deal with AstraZeneca to supply the country with the Oxford University's vaccine.

In a phone interview with Akher Al-Nahar program on Al Nahar TV, Hossam Hosni urged citizens to stick to the coronavirus preventive measures during Muslim’s Eid Al-Adha holiday, including wearing masks, maintaining social distancing and washing hands continuously, in order to avoid a new surge in coronavirus cases.

In Islam, there are two major Eids, namely Eid al-Fitr (Festival of Breaking the Fast) celebrating the end of Ramadan and Eid al-Adha (Festival of Sacrifice) which coincides with the Hajj and commemorates Prophet Abraham’s sacrifice of a sheep in place of his son, Ismael.

بشرى سارة جدا لكل المصريين .. د. حسام حسني: قريبا جدا .. الاعلان عن توافر لقاح كورونا بمشاركة مصرية

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Egypt’s coronavirus cases have significantly declined during this month. On Wednesday, Egypt reported 409 new cases and 37 new deaths, down from 1677 cases on June 13 and from 97 deaths on June 15.

However, Egypt’s Prime Minister Mustafa Madbouli on Wednesday said strict and tough measures on coronavirus may be re-imposed, if the number of cases surged again, adding that public gardens and beaches will remain closed during Eid Al-Adha holiday.

Earlie in July, President Abdel Fattah El Sisi directed the government to provide coronavirus vaccine when it will be available by the international pharmaceutical companies, said Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouli in a cabinet meeting.

Madbouli received a report from the Chairman of the Egyptian Authority for Unified Procurement, Medical Supply and Technology Management (AUPP) Bahaa el Din Zidan reviewing the efforts of the AUPP to follow up producing a coronavirus vaccine by international companies.

In the report, Zidan said that the Vaccine Alliance (GAVI) presented the available vaccines and set a schedule to start the manufacturing operation and giving it to the different countries.

The vaccine will be manufactured in September and October, he said, adding that GAVI will put the plan of distributing it to the different countries.