Egypt Says Treatment Equipment at Isolation Hospitals are Available

A man disinfects a mosque in Cairo. DPA file photo
A man disinfects a mosque in Cairo. DPA file photo
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Egypt Says Treatment Equipment at Isolation Hospitals are Available

A man disinfects a mosque in Cairo. DPA file photo
A man disinfects a mosque in Cairo. DPA file photo

The Egyptian Health Ministry confirmed on Friday that medical teams and treatment supplies were available in isolation hospitals and other medical centers providing services for COVID-19 patients, stressing that vaccination was important to stop the spread of the pandemic.

Health Minister Hala Zayed said she advised the delivery of oxygen concentrators to patients quarantining at home as part of the ministry’s policy to provide the best level of medical services.

Zayed said the Ministry is continuing to respect all preventive measures against the coronavirus at all hospitals.

“There is a need to keep a stock of medical equipment and treatment supplies sufficient for two months in every hospital receiving COVID-19 patients,” she said.

During the past 24 hours, Egypt detected 837 coronavirus cases, bringing the total number of confirmed infections since the outbreak of the pandemic in the country to 213,798.

Health Ministry spokesman Khaled Megahed said in a statement that 41 patients died from complications caused by the disease, raising the death toll to 12,611.

Also, 439 patients were discharged from isolation hospitals after receiving necessary medical care, taking the number of recovered cases to 161,470 so far.

The Ministry had emphasized the importance of committing to COVID-19 precautionary measures during the holy month of Ramadan by avoiding crowded areas such as stores and malls.

Alaa Eid, head of the preventive healthcare sector, urged on Thursday all residents to get vaccinated, stressing the need to reduce family gatherings, especially for the elderly and those with chronic illness.

Eid explained that two Vacsera factories will soon begin to manufacture a coronavirus vaccine and that experiments on the manufacture of the vaccine are currently underway.

“In October 2020, Egypt’s Minister of Health Hala Zayed began communicating with the Chinese Health Ministry about producing the vaccine,” he said.



UK PM Tells Netanyahu Peace Process ‘Should Lead’ to Palestinian State

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer holds a press conference on the Southport attacks in the Downing Street Briefing Room in London, Britain, 21 January 2025. (EPA)
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer holds a press conference on the Southport attacks in the Downing Street Briefing Room in London, Britain, 21 January 2025. (EPA)
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UK PM Tells Netanyahu Peace Process ‘Should Lead’ to Palestinian State

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer holds a press conference on the Southport attacks in the Downing Street Briefing Room in London, Britain, 21 January 2025. (EPA)
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer holds a press conference on the Southport attacks in the Downing Street Briefing Room in London, Britain, 21 January 2025. (EPA)

UK premier Keir Starmer told Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday that any peace process in the Middle East should pave the way for a Palestinian state, Downing Street said.

The two leaders held a call that focused on the fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip, a UK government spokesperson said.

During the conversation, "both agreed that we must work towards a permanent and peaceful solution that guarantees Israel's security and stability", the British readout of the call added.

"The prime minister added that the UK stands ready to do everything it can to support a political process, which should also lead to a viable and sovereign Palestinian state."

Starmer also "reiterated that it was vital to ensure humanitarian aid can now flow uninterrupted into Gaza, to support the Palestinians who desperately need it", the statement added.

Starmer "offered his personal thanks for the work done by the Israeli government to secure the release of the hostages, including British hostage Emily Damari", the statement added.

"To see the pictures of Emily finally back in her family's arms was a wonderful moment but a reminder of the human cost of the conflict," Starmer added, according to the statement.

A truce agreement between Israel and Hamas to end 15 months of war in Gaza came into effect on Sunday.

The first part of the three-phase deal should last six weeks and see 33 hostages returned from Gaza in exchange for around 1,900 Palestinian prisoners.