Egypt Says No New COVID-19 Variant Detected

Students wear face masks at a school in Cairo. EPA file photo
Students wear face masks at a school in Cairo. EPA file photo
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Egypt Says No New COVID-19 Variant Detected

Students wear face masks at a school in Cairo. EPA file photo
Students wear face masks at a school in Cairo. EPA file photo

Egypt on Friday confirmed it has not detected a new COVID-19 variant in the country as the health ministry continued to expand the vaccination drive.

The ministry said on Friday it recorded 919 new coronavirus cases, upping the total number of infections to 341,188.

In a statement, ministry spokesman Khaled Megahed said 60 patients died from complications caused by the disease over the past 24 hours, raising the death toll to 19,309.

As many as 622 patients were discharged from hospitals after receiving medical care, taking the number of recoveries to 285,615.

The ministry also said it continues to take all necessary preventive measures against any viruses or infectious diseases.

“The ministry has not detected any new COVID-19 variants in the country. We are now witnessing the fourth wave of the pandemic, but compared to the last wave, the infection rates are lower,” Megahed said.

The spokesperson announced that the ministry is vaccinating 500,000 people per day.

There is a drive to expand the delivery of vaccines and increase the online registration of citizens on the ministry’s website dedicated for the vaccination campaign, he said.

The ministry renewed its calls to implement precautionary measures after receiving the vaccine and stressed the importance of wearing face masks, ensuring social distancing, and washing hands constantly to avoid getting infected.



Trump Says Gaza Ceasefire Possible this Week or Next

US President Donald Trump listens to opening remarks, on the day he hosts a lunch for African representatives of Gabon, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mauritania, and Senegal in the State Dining Room at the White House in Washington, D.C., US, July 9, 2025. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque
US President Donald Trump listens to opening remarks, on the day he hosts a lunch for African representatives of Gabon, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mauritania, and Senegal in the State Dining Room at the White House in Washington, D.C., US, July 9, 2025. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque
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Trump Says Gaza Ceasefire Possible this Week or Next

US President Donald Trump listens to opening remarks, on the day he hosts a lunch for African representatives of Gabon, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mauritania, and Senegal in the State Dining Room at the White House in Washington, D.C., US, July 9, 2025. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque
US President Donald Trump listens to opening remarks, on the day he hosts a lunch for African representatives of Gabon, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mauritania, and Senegal in the State Dining Room at the White House in Washington, D.C., US, July 9, 2025. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

US President Donald Trump said there is a "very good chance" of a ceasefire in Gaza this week or next, after meeting Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday for the second time in two days to discuss the situation.

"We have a chance this week or next week," Trump told reporters.

Israel's military chief said on Wednesday "conditions have been created" for the advancement of a hostage release deal in Gaza, as indirect negotiations were under way between Israel and Hamas.

"We have achieved many significant results, we have caused great damage to the governance and military capabilities of Hamas," armed forces chief Eyal Zamir said in a televised speech.

"Thanks to the operational power that we have demonstrated, the conditions have been created to advance a deal to release the hostages."

Netanyahu said on Wednesday that his meeting with Trump focused on freeing the hostages held in Gaza, and stressed his determination to "eliminate" the military and governmental capabilities of Hamas.