Egypt Sets Up More Vaccination Centers at Train Stations

A vaccination center at a metro station in Cairo (Egyptian Health Ministry)
A vaccination center at a metro station in Cairo (Egyptian Health Ministry)
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Egypt Sets Up More Vaccination Centers at Train Stations

A vaccination center at a metro station in Cairo (Egyptian Health Ministry)
A vaccination center at a metro station in Cairo (Egyptian Health Ministry)

Egypt has set up additional COVID-19 inoculation sites inside metro and train stations as part of its expanded vaccination campaign to curb the spread of the pandemic

The Health Ministry recorded 803 new coronavirus cases on Thursday, upping the total number of confirmed infections since the outbreak began in the country to 366,634.

The Ministry said 42 patients have died from the disease, raising the death toll to 20,919, while the number of recovered cases amounted to 304,747.

It called on citizens to take the coronavirus vaccine to be protected against the disease.

Health authorities have urged citizens to continue to abide by the preventative measures including wearing facemasks, maintaining social distancing, washing hands regularly, and avoiding crowded places.

The Ministry stressed that the vaccine may not prevent infection, but it can impact disease severity, affirming that all types of vaccines approved by the World Health Organization are available.

It issued a statement advising people to isolate themselves once they feel they have flu symptoms and head directly to the hospital in case they had any respiratory problems.

“Twenty-three public hospitals and 21 university hospitals have been transformed into isolation centers for COVID-19 patients,” the statement read, despite the drop in the number of cases that require hospital admission.

Health Ministry Spokesperson Hossam Abdel Ghaffar pointed out that Egypt has not yet reached the peak of the fourth wave of the pandemic.

He called on citizens to get vaccinated and protect themselves and the society.



Baghdad Urges Washington to Prevent ‘Imminent’ Israeli Strikes

Sudani visiting a market in Baghdad on Thursday (Government media)
Sudani visiting a market in Baghdad on Thursday (Government media)
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Baghdad Urges Washington to Prevent ‘Imminent’ Israeli Strikes

Sudani visiting a market in Baghdad on Thursday (Government media)
Sudani visiting a market in Baghdad on Thursday (Government media)

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani on Thursday called on major powers to “exert greater efforts to end the war in Palestine and Lebanon.” Meanwhile, an Iraqi government official urged the United States to “prevent any attacks on the country,” referring to potential Israeli strikes.
During a phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Al-Sudani stressed the importance of ensuring the conflict does not escalate “to a level that threatens regional and global stability.”
The Iraqi prime minister’s appeal comes amid reports suggesting that Israel may launch strikes on Iraq in retaliation for attacks by Iraqi armed factions targeting Israeli positions.
The Iraqi government is striving to assert its exclusive authority over weapons and war-related decisions. However, armed factions affiliated with the Axis of Resistance openly claim responsibility for near-daily rocket attacks on Israel. This has provided Israel with a justification for potentially targeting Iraqi territory, especially after it filed a complaint with the UN Security Council against six Iraqi factions and held Baghdad responsible for the attacks.
These factions have also openly declared their involvement in the ongoing conflict with Israel in Lebanon and Gaza. The Iraqi government has been unable to take decisive action to halt the activities of these factions, which many believe could soon expose Iraq to an Israeli strike.
According to media reports, Washington has warned Baghdad that Israeli airstrikes on Iraq are “imminent” unless the Iraqi government curtails attacks by Iranian-backed factions on Israel. The Times of Israel cited sources indicating that the United States has “exhausted all means of pressure on Israel” and urged Iraq to act swiftly to prevent such attacks.
Despite repeated assurances from the Iraqi government—including its recent adoption of 12 measures by the National Security Council to counter Israeli threats and complaints—the situation remains tense. These measures include monitoring Iraq’s western borders, preventing factions from launching attacks, and maintaining Iraq’s neutrality in the ongoing conflict.
On Wednesday, Abu Hussein Al-Hamidawi, Secretary-General of Kata’ib Hezbollah, made a striking statement on the role of resistance factions in the war and their commitment to the Unity of Fronts doctrine frequently mentioned by Axis of Resistance groups.
In an interview published by the faction’s media arm, Al-Hamidawi said: “The continuity of the Unity of Fronts concept depends on what the Lebanese Hezbollah decides.”
Al-Hamidawi also emphasized that resistance factions are constantly coordinating internally and with external partners such as Hezbollah, the Houthis, and Palestinian resistance leaders.
“We aim to ensure that the Palestinian people are not left alone and that the Unity of Fronts remains intact,” he stated.
Fadi Al-Shammari, a political advisor to Sudani, reiterated that Israel’s threats “are not new,” citing the recent complaint filed by Israel with the UN Security Council as part of its pattern of issuing threats.
In media statements, Al-Shammari reaffirmed the Iraqi government’s long-standing position: “The decision of war and peace lies solely with the Iraqi government.”
He noted that the factions’ attacks are being launched from areas outside Iraq’s borders, specifically from Syria. However, he stressed that the Iraqi government is working through its security and military agencies to prevent Iraq from becoming a battlefield for external or internal parties.
Al-Shammari also called on the United States to fulfill its responsibilities under the Strategic Framework Agreement and security pact with Iraq, emphasizing the need to deter and respond to any external attacks that threaten Iraq’s internal security.