Egypt Reports Rise in COVID-19 Infections

The streets of Cairo, Egypt, on April 21, 2021, during the holy month of Ramadan. (Photo by Fadel Dawod/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
The streets of Cairo, Egypt, on April 21, 2021, during the holy month of Ramadan. (Photo by Fadel Dawod/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
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Egypt Reports Rise in COVID-19 Infections

The streets of Cairo, Egypt, on April 21, 2021, during the holy month of Ramadan. (Photo by Fadel Dawod/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
The streets of Cairo, Egypt, on April 21, 2021, during the holy month of Ramadan. (Photo by Fadel Dawod/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Egypt's Ministry of Health Ministry said the country had registered 1,148 new coronavirus cases, raising the total number of infections in the country to 252,690.

It also announced 52 virus-related deaths during the past 24 hours, bringing the death toll to 14,670.

According to the Ministry, there are up to 186,223 recoveries so far.

Last Wednesday, authorities in Egypt decided to extend a partial evening closure of shops, malls, restaurants, and entertainment places until the end of May.

Per the new decision, stores and entertainment places will continue to shut their doors at 9 p.m. local time until May 31, in extension of a decision issued on May 6.

Also, Egypt's Interior Ministry continues to monitor citizens' violations of precautionary measures, including wearing face masks and social distancing.

Up to 15,000 violations were recorded on Sunday. Penalties were imposed on several stores that did not abide by lockdown hours and safety measures.



Egypt’s Sisi Warns Israeli Operations Threaten the Region

09 December 2021, Egypt, Cairo: Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati (L) meets with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi at the Presidential Palace in Cairo. (Dalati & Nohra/dpa)
09 December 2021, Egypt, Cairo: Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati (L) meets with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi at the Presidential Palace in Cairo. (Dalati & Nohra/dpa)
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Egypt’s Sisi Warns Israeli Operations Threaten the Region

09 December 2021, Egypt, Cairo: Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati (L) meets with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi at the Presidential Palace in Cairo. (Dalati & Nohra/dpa)
09 December 2021, Egypt, Cairo: Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati (L) meets with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi at the Presidential Palace in Cairo. (Dalati & Nohra/dpa)

Egypt’s president warned that Israeli military operations in the Palestinian territories and Lebanon are pushing the region to the brink and called for international action.

Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, one of the mediators between Israel and Hamas, called for “an immediate and comprehensive ceasefire” in both Gaza and Lebanon amid an unprecedented escalation between Israel and Hezbollah.

His remarks came after Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of Hezbollah, was killed in an Israeli airstrike on Friday.

His comments came in a phone call late Saturday with Lebanese caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati, according to a statement from the Egyptian president’s office. He also gave orders to send medical and humanitarian aid to Lebanon immediately.

Along with the United States and Qatar, Egypt has for months spearheaded negotiations between Israel and Hamas to end the war in Gaza.

But negotiations have repeatedly stalled amid mounting fear of an all-out war between Israel and Hezbollah, an ally of Hamas. Diplomats see a ceasefire in Gaza as the best way to avert a regional war.