Egyptian Health Ministry Affirms Availability of COVID-19 Medicine, Treatment Protocols

Egyptians wearing face masks against COVID-19 queue up to vote on August 11, 2020 for a new senate in an upper house election. | Khaled Desouki/ AFP
Egyptians wearing face masks against COVID-19 queue up to vote on August 11, 2020 for a new senate in an upper house election. | Khaled Desouki/ AFP
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Egyptian Health Ministry Affirms Availability of COVID-19 Medicine, Treatment Protocols

Egyptians wearing face masks against COVID-19 queue up to vote on August 11, 2020 for a new senate in an upper house election. | Khaled Desouki/ AFP
Egyptians wearing face masks against COVID-19 queue up to vote on August 11, 2020 for a new senate in an upper house election. | Khaled Desouki/ AFP

The Egyptian Health Ministry has affirmed that COVID-19 medicine and treatment protocols for quarantined cases are available, noting that there is no need for panic buying of medicines.

As many as 890 patients were discharged from isolation hospitals after receiving necessary medical care, taking the number of recovered cases to 76,305 so far, according to a statement issued by the Health Ministry.

It added that 157 new coronavirus cases were registered, and 16 patients had died.

Egypt's Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly has followed up on the availability of drugs needed for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) under Egypt’s treatment protocol for the virus. Madbouly emphasized that he is constantly monitoring efforts to ensure the availability of drugs included in Egypt’s treatment protocol for the virus.

Dr. Hossam Al-Masry, medical adviser to the prime minister, said that the Medical Affairs Secretariat has been coordinating with the Egyptian Drug Authority (EDA) regarding medical supplies.

In August, the EDA has spent considerable effort to provide medical supplies related to the treatment protocol for the coronavirus. Masry added that these drugs have been made available by several pharmaceutical companies.

Dr. Tariq Al-Rifai, director of the Unified Governmental Complaints System at the Council of Ministers, revealed that the System received more than 8,000 complaints and requests related to the health field during August.

For the fifth month in a row, the System continued to receive complaints of citizens and COVID-19 suspects and patients.



UN Envoy: Situation in Syria ‘Dangerous’ and Threatens ISIS Resurgence

FILED - 29 November 2020, Switzerland, Geneva: Geir Otto Pedersen, United Nations special envoy for Syria, speaks during a press conference at the UN's European headquarters. Photo: Violaine Martin/UN Geneva/dpa
FILED - 29 November 2020, Switzerland, Geneva: Geir Otto Pedersen, United Nations special envoy for Syria, speaks during a press conference at the UN's European headquarters. Photo: Violaine Martin/UN Geneva/dpa
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UN Envoy: Situation in Syria ‘Dangerous’ and Threatens ISIS Resurgence

FILED - 29 November 2020, Switzerland, Geneva: Geir Otto Pedersen, United Nations special envoy for Syria, speaks during a press conference at the UN's European headquarters. Photo: Violaine Martin/UN Geneva/dpa
FILED - 29 November 2020, Switzerland, Geneva: Geir Otto Pedersen, United Nations special envoy for Syria, speaks during a press conference at the UN's European headquarters. Photo: Violaine Martin/UN Geneva/dpa

Geir Pedersen, Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Syria, warned on Tuesday that the situation in Syria is extremely fluid and dangerous, as a vast swathe of territory has come under the control of non-state actors.

At a briefing to the Security Council on the situation in the country, Pedersen also cautioned that developments may lead to the resurgence of ISIS.

“Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS) and armed opposition groups are gaining ground, advancing very close to Hama – a major city of some 1 million people,” he said.

In addition, the envoy warned of the potential for conflict on other axes in Syria, adding that further military escalation risks mass displacement and civilian casualties.

“I appeal to all parties to their obligations under international law to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure and allow safe passage for Syrians fleeing violence,” Pedersen told the Council.

He then urged deescalation and a rapid move to a serious political process to avoid a deepening of the crisis that threatens the territorial integrity and safety of Syria.

“If we do not see deescalation and a rapid move to a serious political process, involving the Syrian parties and the key international players, then I fear we will see a deepening of the crisis,” he said.

Pederson then revealed that he will return to the region “soon,” and he expressed his readiness to use his good offices to convene international and Syria stakeholders in new and comprehensive peace talks on Syria.

The envoy asked that deescalation be accompanied by a credible political horizon for the Syrian people

Over the past few days, armed factions in northwestern Syria led by the HTS launched a military assault against pro-Assad forces, seizing Aleppo and Idlib. They continue to advance towards the city of Hama.