Egypt Scales Up Readiness of COVID-19 Isolation Hospitals

Men in protective masks wait for the train at a metro station in Cairo. (File photo: Reuters)
Men in protective masks wait for the train at a metro station in Cairo. (File photo: Reuters)
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Egypt Scales Up Readiness of COVID-19 Isolation Hospitals

Men in protective masks wait for the train at a metro station in Cairo. (File photo: Reuters)
Men in protective masks wait for the train at a metro station in Cairo. (File photo: Reuters)

Egypt has ramped up efforts to increase the preparedness of the coronavirus isolation hospitals as the country witnesses an exponential upwards curve in COVID-19 infections, announced Minister of Health and Population Hala Zayed.

The Minister indicated that private sector hospitals are the Health Ministry’s primary partner in providing medical services to those infected, stressing the importance of uniting all state efforts with the private sector to confront the virus.

She also thanked the health workers for their efforts in serving patients during the pandemic, urging them to provide health care to all coronavirus patients.

The Ministry of Health earlier stated that 98 persons had recovered while 392 new cases were recorded. It also reported 16 deaths over the past 24 hours.

Egypt has officially registered 116,303 virus cases, including 6,666 fatalities and 102,816 recoveries since the start of the pandemic, according to the ministry.

Cairo, Giza, and Alexandria governorates recorded the highest infection rates.

During a meeting with the Chairman of the Health Care Providers Chamber Dr. Alaa Abdel Majeed Masoud, the Health Minister emphasized that the medical sector has been the first line of defense since the beginning of the pandemic.

She indicated that 436 hospitals have been equipped to receive patients, including 22 isolation hospitals.

The meeting discussed the mechanism of work of private hospitals during the pandemic and the updated treatment protocols per the standards of the World Health Organization.

The spokesman of the Egyptian Health Ministry, Khalid Mujahid, said that the meeting also evaluated the medical services provided to coronavirus patients in private hospitals.

He pointed out that the ministry is meeting the needs of these hospitals, noting that all necessary medicines and preventive equipment are being supplied to best serve the country's patients.

Meanwhile, the government held a meeting, chaired by PM Mostafa Madbouly, and announced that it will be taking the necessary steps to provide coronavirus vaccines, including contracting with the Vaccine Alliance Gavi for around 20 million doses.

The cabinet also instructed all medical groups to contract other companies to secure a greater number of vaccines.



Trump Secures $600 Billion Saudi Investment Pledge on Gulf Tour

Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, and US President Donald Trump shake hands during a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signing ceremony at the Royal Court in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, May 13, 2025. (Reuters)
Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, and US President Donald Trump shake hands during a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signing ceremony at the Royal Court in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, May 13, 2025. (Reuters)
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Trump Secures $600 Billion Saudi Investment Pledge on Gulf Tour

Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, and US President Donald Trump shake hands during a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signing ceremony at the Royal Court in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, May 13, 2025. (Reuters)
Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, and US President Donald Trump shake hands during a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signing ceremony at the Royal Court in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, May 13, 2025. (Reuters)

US President Donald Trump secured a $600 billion commitment from Saudi Arabia on Tuesday to invest in the United States as he kicked off a Gulf tour in Riyadh where he was welcomed by Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister.

The leaders signed an agreement on energy, defense, mining and other areas, which the White House said will “build economic ties that will endure for generations to come.”

“The deals celebrated today are historic and transformative for both countries and represent a new golden era of partnership between the United States and Saudi Arabia,” it added in a statement.

Among the agreements secured on Tuesday: Saudi Arabian DataVolt is moving forward with plans to invest $20 billion in AI data centers and energy infrastructure in the United States.

Google, DataVolt, Oracle, Salesforce, AMD, and Uber are committing to invest $80 billion in cutting-edge transformative technologies in both countries, said the White House.

American companies including Hill International, Jacobs, Parsons, and AECOM are building key infrastructure projects like King Salman International Airport, King Salman Park, The Vault, Qiddiya City, and much more totaling $2 billion in US services exports.

Additional major exports include GE Vernova’s gas turbines and energy solutions totaling $14.2 billion and Boeing 737-8 passenger aircraft for AviLease totaling $4.8 billion.

Investment partnerships include several sector-specific funds with a strong emphasis on US deployment, such as the $5 billion Energy Investment Fund, the $5 billion New Era Aerospace and Defense Technology Fund, and the $4 billion Enfield Sports Global Sports Fund.

Trump had arrived in the Kingdom earlier on Tuesday on his first overseas trip since his reelection. He will next visit the United Arab Emirates and Qatar.

Saudi Arabia and the United States also signed the largest defense sales agreement in history, worth nearly early $142 billion.