Egypt’s COVID-19 Cases Stabilize as Country Readies for Eid

Egyptians gather in front of the Central Public Health Laboratories in downtown Cairo as they wait to get tested for the coronavirus (COVID-19) on March 8, 2020. AFP
Egyptians gather in front of the Central Public Health Laboratories in downtown Cairo as they wait to get tested for the coronavirus (COVID-19) on March 8, 2020. AFP
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Egypt’s COVID-19 Cases Stabilize as Country Readies for Eid

Egyptians gather in front of the Central Public Health Laboratories in downtown Cairo as they wait to get tested for the coronavirus (COVID-19) on March 8, 2020. AFP
Egyptians gather in front of the Central Public Health Laboratories in downtown Cairo as they wait to get tested for the coronavirus (COVID-19) on March 8, 2020. AFP

The Egyptian authorities called on residents to respect precautionary measures during celebrations of Eid Al-Adha as the country's coronavirus cases witnessed a steady decline in the past few days.

On Tuesday, the Egyptian Health Ministry reported 50 new deaths from COVID-19, bringing the death toll to 4,352.

The Ministry said in a statement that 627 new COVID-19 infections were confirmed, raising the total cases registered in the country to 88,402.

In a move to confront the impact of the coronavirus on the economy, the Egyptian Ministry of Health and Population signed a cooperation protocol with the National Bank of Egypt (NBE) and Banque Misr to support the health sector with LE 60 million.

Ministry spokesperson Khaled Mujahid said the money will be allocated to purchase a number of CT scans, for the benefit of hospitals designated to receive suspected cases of the novel coronavirus.

Also, the Health Ministry welcomed Parliament’s approval of amendments that increase allowance for medical professionals.

Meanwhile, EgyptAir announced Tuesday it will raise the number of its international destinations to 35 starting August, while increasing domestic trips to stimulate local tourism such as by transporting holiday-makers eager to enjoy the coming Eid holiday, announced the carrier’s chairman Roshdy Zakaria.

This came as the education ministry announced that Egypt's 2020/2021 school year will start on October 17.

However, no decision has yet been taken if students will return to classrooms full-time.



Canada Says It Will Provide C$10 Million in Aid to Lebanese Civilians

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau gestures as he speaks to the media on the sidelines of the 79th United Nations General Assembly, in New York, US, September 24, 2024.  REUTERS/Caitlin Ochs
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau gestures as he speaks to the media on the sidelines of the 79th United Nations General Assembly, in New York, US, September 24, 2024. REUTERS/Caitlin Ochs
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Canada Says It Will Provide C$10 Million in Aid to Lebanese Civilians

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau gestures as he speaks to the media on the sidelines of the 79th United Nations General Assembly, in New York, US, September 24, 2024.  REUTERS/Caitlin Ochs
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau gestures as he speaks to the media on the sidelines of the 79th United Nations General Assembly, in New York, US, September 24, 2024. REUTERS/Caitlin Ochs

Canada is deeply concerned by the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, and will provide C$10 million ($7.4 million) for humanitarian assistance to civilians in Lebanon, the Canadian foreign ministry said on Saturday.
"Canada urges all parties involved in the conflict to protect civilians, including humanitarian workers, from harm," the foreign ministry said in a statement in which it reiterated a call for a 21-day ceasefire across the Lebanon-Israel border.
Israeli strikes in Lebanon killed 33 people and wounded 195 others on Saturday, including Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah.
The strikes continued on Beirut's southern suburbs throughout the early evening on Saturday, according to a Reuters live broadcast, sending large clouds of smoke over the city.
One Israeli strike hit an industrial area 500 meters (yards) from Beirut airport buildings, a security source told Reuters. The airport continued to operate normally, according to Middle East Airlines boss Mohammad al-Hout.
More than 1,000 people have been killed and more than 6,000 wounded as a result of Israeli attacks in the past two weeks, the health ministry said, and about one million Lebanese have been displaced by the strikes, including hundreds of thousands since Friday, Nasser Yassin, the minister coordinating the government's crisis response, told Reuters on Saturday.