Egypt Inoculates 14 Million Citizens against COVID-19

The minister of higher education during a visit to Ain Shams University on Saturday, October 10, 2021. (Egyptian government’s Facebook page)
The minister of higher education during a visit to Ain Shams University on Saturday, October 10, 2021. (Egyptian government’s Facebook page)
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Egypt Inoculates 14 Million Citizens against COVID-19

The minister of higher education during a visit to Ain Shams University on Saturday, October 10, 2021. (Egyptian government’s Facebook page)
The minister of higher education during a visit to Ain Shams University on Saturday, October 10, 2021. (Egyptian government’s Facebook page)

Health authorities in Egypt announced that they have so far vaccinated 14 million citizens against COVID-19.

Dr. Mohamed Awad Taj El-Din, adviser to Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi for health affairs, said 31 million doses available in the country.

“Large quantities of the Chinese vaccine have been manufactured locally,” he noted, adding there is abundance in raw materials.

Egypt is currently grappling with the fourth wave of the pandemic, Taj El-Din said urging people to continue to respect preventive measures, including maintaining social distancing and wearing masks.

The Health Ministry has recorded 310,745 coronavirus infections so far, including 262,043 recoveries and 17,619 deaths.

Meanwhile, the new academic year at schools and universities began on Saturday, amid strict measures to prevent the spread of the virus.

School administrations urged students to adhere to the health measures and ensure full in-person attendance for the entire year.

A health committee was assigned to each school to make sure that students, faculty and staff respect health precautions, such as mask wearing and social distancing.



Arab League Warns Against ‘Strife’ in Syria

The Arab League headquarters in Cairo. Asharq Al-Awsat
The Arab League headquarters in Cairo. Asharq Al-Awsat
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Arab League Warns Against ‘Strife’ in Syria

The Arab League headquarters in Cairo. Asharq Al-Awsat
The Arab League headquarters in Cairo. Asharq Al-Awsat

The Arab League has warned against “strife” in Syria, saying it was “following with concern the events taking place in several Syrian cities and areas with the aim of igniting the sparks of conflict.”

It said Thursday that it “rejects the Iranian statements aimed at fueling strife among the Syrian people,” according to a statement from the secretariat.

It did not specify which statements it was referring to.

Syria's newly appointed foreign minister, Asaad Hassan al-Shibani, said on Tuesday that Iran must respect the will of the Syrian people and Syria's sovereignty and security.

"We warn them against spreading chaos in Syria and we hold them accountable for the repercussions of the latest remarks," he said.

Tehran’s foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei lashed out on Thursday against unspecified media reports on Iran “interfering in Syria’s internal affairs” as “baseless.”

Iran was committed to “supporting the territorial integrity and national unity of Syria and the formation of an inclusive political system,” he said in a statement.

On Sunday, Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei called on Syrian youth to "stand with firm determination against those who have orchestrated and brought about this insecurity.”

Khamenei forecast "that a strong and honorable group will also emerge in Syria because today Syrian youth have nothing to lose,” calling the country unsafe.