Egyptian Govt Urges Public to Observe COVID-19 Precautions amid Case Surge

A nurse inspects a robot designed to assist in carrying out coronavirus tests at Tanta Hospital (in the north of Egypt) (AFP)
A nurse inspects a robot designed to assist in carrying out coronavirus tests at Tanta Hospital (in the north of Egypt) (AFP)
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Egyptian Govt Urges Public to Observe COVID-19 Precautions amid Case Surge

A nurse inspects a robot designed to assist in carrying out coronavirus tests at Tanta Hospital (in the north of Egypt) (AFP)
A nurse inspects a robot designed to assist in carrying out coronavirus tests at Tanta Hospital (in the north of Egypt) (AFP)

The Egyptian government has urged citizens to adhere to preventive measures to contain COVID-19 spread, especially during the upcoming holy month of Ramadan.

For her part, Egyptian Minister of Health Hala Zayed said that chest hospitals and tuberculosis laboratories have been developed and supplied with the latest devices, affirming that the number of care and hospital beds increased.

Zayed said that chest hospitals are the first interface, along with fever hospitals for patients with suspected emerging coronavirus.

“The number of visitors to the chest hospitals reached more than two million citizens during the year 2020, as they were designated as screening and isolation hospitals for cases infected with COVID-19," she revealed.

Participating in activities to mark the International Tuberculosis Day, Zayed said that medical staff in these hospitals continue to receive training in combating and treating the virus.

Moreover, the Crisis Management Committee at the Egyptian Ministry of Endowments closed two mosques in Menofia and Qena as worshipers failed to commit to protective measures.

The Ministry of Endowments affirmed that it would shut any mosque that fails to adhere to the preventive measures.

It also called on the regional directorates to report any violations in this regard, reiterating the necessity of wearing facemasks and respecting physical distancing, as well as bringing a personal praying mat when attending the mosque.

On Wednesday, Egypt’s Health Ministry reported 641 new coronavirus cases and 40 deaths.

The new infections raised the total number of reported cases to 197,350. Also, the country reported a total of 151,444 recoveries and 11,720 deaths.



UN Refugee Agency Expects 1 Million Syrians to Return

Trucks carrying the belongings of Syrian refugees move along a road from a camp in Arsal in eastern Lebanon on their way back to Syria on December 16, 2024. (Photo by Nidal SOLH / AFP)
Trucks carrying the belongings of Syrian refugees move along a road from a camp in Arsal in eastern Lebanon on their way back to Syria on December 16, 2024. (Photo by Nidal SOLH / AFP)
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UN Refugee Agency Expects 1 Million Syrians to Return

Trucks carrying the belongings of Syrian refugees move along a road from a camp in Arsal in eastern Lebanon on their way back to Syria on December 16, 2024. (Photo by Nidal SOLH / AFP)
Trucks carrying the belongings of Syrian refugees move along a road from a camp in Arsal in eastern Lebanon on their way back to Syria on December 16, 2024. (Photo by Nidal SOLH / AFP)

A UN refugee agency official said on Tuesday that some 1 million Syrian refugees are expected to return to the country in the first six months of 2025, asking countries to refrain from forced returns.

"Now we have forecasted that we hope to see somewhere in the order of 1 million Syrians returning between January and June next year so we shared this plan with donors, asking for their support," said Rema Jamous Imseis, UNHCR Director for the Middle East and North Africa.

She said that thousands of people had fled Syria this month as opposition fighters seized power from President Bashar al-Assad, while thousands had also returned to the country mostly from Türkiye, Lebanon and Jordan.