Egypt detected 567 new coronavirus cases on Monday, bringing the total infections toll in the country since the outbreak of the pandemic last year to 170,207.

The health ministry reported 48 deaths, bringing the fatalities from the virus to 9,699.

323 patients have been discharged from hospitals after recovering from the virus in the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of recoveries to 132,698.

Egypt began its COVID-19 vaccination roll-out in late January, with priority to the country’s medical staff who are on the frontline battling the outbreak.

The roll-out would see each person receiving two shots administered 21 days apart.

Last week, health minister Hala Zayed said that vaccination of health staff in 22 isolation hospitals nationwide has been concluded, with the second phase of the immunization program kicking off to cover medical staff in 86 chest and fever hospitals.


Egypt is looking to boost its supply of coronavirus vaccines to face the outbreak in the overpopulous country which many fear could overwhelm the country’s health system.

It is currently awaiting on new deliveries of coronavirus vaccines to expand the vaccinations' access to more categories, especially to top priority groups which include patients suffering from chronic diseases and elderly citizens.

Egypt received the first batch of the Chinese vaccine - 50,000 doses - in December from the UAE and is currently awaiting a second batch.

China said it will provide Egypt with 300,000 doses of its Sinopharm vaccination “soon”, according to statements by the country’s ambassador to Cairo last week.



The Chinese vaccine is one of three vaccines planned for use in inoculation by the country in innoculating citizens along with the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine and the Russian-made Sputnik V vaccine.


On 31 January, Egypt received the 50,000 doses as a first batch of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine from the British-Swedish company’s branch in India.

The batch, is part of a UPA's agreement that includes 20 million doses of the British AstraZeneca's vaccine – which is developed by India's R-pharma and Serum Institute following their deal to transfer the vaccine manufacturing technology from the British company.