Egypt Prepares to Vaccinate Tourism Sector Workers with Booster Shots

 Egypt's Acting Minister of Health during a meeting to discuss the developments of the pandemic situation. (Egyptian government)
Egypt's Acting Minister of Health during a meeting to discuss the developments of the pandemic situation. (Egyptian government)
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Egypt Prepares to Vaccinate Tourism Sector Workers with Booster Shots

 Egypt's Acting Minister of Health during a meeting to discuss the developments of the pandemic situation. (Egyptian government)
Egypt's Acting Minister of Health during a meeting to discuss the developments of the pandemic situation. (Egyptian government)

The Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, and the acting Minister of Health and Population, Khaled Abdel-Ghaffar said all tourism sector workers must receive booster doses of the coronavirus vaccine.

This came during the minister’s meeting Saturday with officials and directors of the health directorates in the governorates.

The minister was briefed on the periodic reports on the progress of the vaccination process for targeted citizens of all age groups, as well as follow-up on the rates of visits to vaccination centers distributed throughout the country.

He also followed up on the plan to vaccinate the targeted students after obtaining their parents’ consents and before the beginning of the second school semester.

Abdel-Ghaffar noted that Beheira, Gharbia, and Giza governorates recorded the highest rates of vaccination for children from 12 to 18 years old.

The Health Ministry Egypt recorded 2,018 new cases over the past 24 hours, raising the total number of infections in the country to 421,478, including 354,300 recoveries.

Also, 44 patients have died from the virus, raising death toll to 22,566.



Algeria Blames French Interior Minister for Renewed Crisis with France

Algerian and French Presidents at the G7 Summit in Italy, before the crisis erupted (Algerian Presidency)
Algerian and French Presidents at the G7 Summit in Italy, before the crisis erupted (Algerian Presidency)
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Algeria Blames French Interior Minister for Renewed Crisis with France

Algerian and French Presidents at the G7 Summit in Italy, before the crisis erupted (Algerian Presidency)
Algerian and French Presidents at the G7 Summit in Italy, before the crisis erupted (Algerian Presidency)

Tensions between Algeria and France have escalated in recent days, marked by the expulsion of 12 diplomats from each country.

Observers warn that the situation, already at a boiling point, could lead to a complete rupture in relations unless one side takes steps to de-escalate.

Relations between Algeria and France especially soured following the arrest of an Algerian diplomat in Paris, alongside two others, on charges of kidnapping and detaining Algerian opposition figure Amir Boukhriss.

The French judiciary has linked the case to terrorism.

In response, Algeria strongly condemned the diplomat's detention and expelled 12 French embassy staff last Monday, all connected to French security services.

The following day, Paris retaliated by expelling an equal number of Algerian diplomats, asserting that its judiciary acted independently in its investigation into the April 2024 kidnapping incident.

In a statement on Tuesday, Algeria's Ministry of Foreign Affairs held French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau personally responsible for the diplomat's imprisonment.

Since tensions began rising late last year, Algeria has emphasized that its issue is with French policies, not President Emmanuel Macron personally.

The dispute has intensified over Macron's push to deport hundreds of “undesirable” Algerians and his insistence on scrapping the 1968 migration agreement between the two countries, claiming it hinders France's efforts to curb illegal immigration.

Retailleau, a prominent figure on the French right and a key contender for leadership of the “Les Républicains” party, has become a leading advocate for a hardline stance on Algeria.

His recent focus on immigration issues reflects his strategy to secure votes ahead of the upcoming election.