Egypt Adopts Flexible Mechanism at Schools amid COVID-19 Outbreak

High school students wearing protective masks wait in line during the first day of final exams, amid concerns over the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Cairo, Egypt June 21, 2020. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh
High school students wearing protective masks wait in line during the first day of final exams, amid concerns over the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Cairo, Egypt June 21, 2020. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh
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Egypt Adopts Flexible Mechanism at Schools amid COVID-19 Outbreak

High school students wearing protective masks wait in line during the first day of final exams, amid concerns over the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Cairo, Egypt June 21, 2020. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh
High school students wearing protective masks wait in line during the first day of final exams, amid concerns over the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Cairo, Egypt June 21, 2020. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh

Egypt's Ministry of Education has adopted a flexible mechanism at schools amid mounting concerns regarding the novel coronavirus, only days before the beginning of the new academic year in the country.

Egyptian Deputy Minister of Education for Teacher Affairs said on Sunday that those in charge are allowed to make the necessary changes for the academic year depending on the conditions of every governorate, however, without affecting the course of the curriculum.

Dr. Reda Hegazy aksi stressed commitment to the handbook issued by the Egyptian Ministry of Health and Population in cooperation with the Egyptian Ministry of Education. The handbook includes all precautionary measures that have to be applied to protect students during the academic year 2020-2021. The Ministry of Education also ordered the closure of any educational institution that registers COVID-19 cases.

The official underscored that cooperation among everyone is essential to maintain students’ health, noting that the ultimate goal is to guarantee a successful educational year amidst these exceptional conditions.

Meanwhile, the Egyptian Ministry of Health and Population announced that 45 recovered from the virus and were discharged from the hospital after receiving needed medical care.

Meanwhile, up to 129 new cases were confirmed while 12 deaths were recorded.

The new number brought the caseload of COVID-19 cases in Egypt on Sunday to 104,516, including 97,688 recoveries and 6,052 deaths.



Syria: Assad Names Ex-minister Jalali to Form Cabinet

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Reuters
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Reuters
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Syria: Assad Names Ex-minister Jalali to Form Cabinet

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Reuters
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Reuters

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad issued a decree naming former communications minister Mohammad Ghazi al-Jalali to form a new cabinet, state media said on Saturday.
The new cabinet will replace an outgoing administration which has been serving in a caretaker role since parliamentary elections in mid-July.
Al-Jalali served as communications minister from 2014-2016. He has been subject to EU sanctions since 2014 for his "responsibility for the regime's violent repression of the civilian population.”