Egypt's Schools, Universities Tighten COVID-19 Restrictions

Egyptian Health Ministry continues to vaccinate citizens (Ministry of Health Spokesman's Facebook page)
Egyptian Health Ministry continues to vaccinate citizens (Ministry of Health Spokesman's Facebook page)
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Egypt's Schools, Universities Tighten COVID-19 Restrictions

Egyptian Health Ministry continues to vaccinate citizens (Ministry of Health Spokesman's Facebook page)
Egyptian Health Ministry continues to vaccinate citizens (Ministry of Health Spokesman's Facebook page)

Universities and schools in Egypt have tightened the coronavirus-related restrictions ahead of the final exams of the academic year.

This came as the Egyptian Health Ministry reported 861 new COVID-19 cases on Friday, raising the total number of infections to 266,350.

The Ministry said the death toll also rose to 15,268, while the number of recoveries reached 195,072.

So far, Egypt has prepared 400 vaccination centers and set mobile clinics that will be stationed outside post and insurance offices in all governorates to make it easier for the elderly and those suffering from chronic diseases to receive the jabs.

The Egyptian Ministry of Education stressed that students should apply physical distancing and wear face-masks, while classrooms should be sanitized regularly.

Member of the Supreme Committee for Viruses in the Egyptian Ministry of Higher Education Jaida Anwar stressed the importance of adhering to the preventative precautions.

She said that the first dose of the vaccine provides only a 50-percent immunity.

Anwar urged everyone who has received both doses to continue to adhere to the precautions.



Israel Conducts More Ground Raids in Southern Lebanon, Strikes Beirut Suburbs

Rubble is scattered at the site of an Israeli overnight airstrike that targeted a house in the town of Ablah in Lebanon's Bekaa valley on October 5, 2024. (AFP)
Rubble is scattered at the site of an Israeli overnight airstrike that targeted a house in the town of Ablah in Lebanon's Bekaa valley on October 5, 2024. (AFP)
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Israel Conducts More Ground Raids in Southern Lebanon, Strikes Beirut Suburbs

Rubble is scattered at the site of an Israeli overnight airstrike that targeted a house in the town of Ablah in Lebanon's Bekaa valley on October 5, 2024. (AFP)
Rubble is scattered at the site of an Israeli overnight airstrike that targeted a house in the town of Ablah in Lebanon's Bekaa valley on October 5, 2024. (AFP)

The Israeli military said on Saturday that special forces were carrying out ground raids against Hezbollah infrastructure in southern Lebanon, destroying missiles, launchpads, watchtowers and weapons storage facilities.

The military said troops also dismantled tunnel shafts that Hezbollah used to approach the Israeli border.

Israeli airstrikes also hit areas in eastern Lebanon, according to state media. At least six people were killed, according to Lebanon’s state National News Agency (NNA).

Some 1,400 Lebanese, including Hezbollah fighters and civilians, have been killed and some 1.2 million driven from their homes since Israel escalated its strikes in late September aiming to cripple Hezbollah and push it away from the countries’ shared border.

On Tuesday, Israel launched a limited ground operation into southern Lebanon. Nine Israeli troops have been killed in close fighting in the area in the past few days, which is saturated with arms and explosives, the military said.

Beirut’s southern suburbs was hit by 12 Israeli airstrikes early Saturday, including one that badly damaged a large hall Hezbollah has used to hold ceremonies, said NNA.

Later in the day, more strikes hit the area, from which tens of thousands of people have fled over the past two weeks.