Fifty-nine coronavirus-related deaths were recorded on Sunday, putting the total deaths from the virus at 18,651, the ministry added.

In addition, 644 patients were discharged from hospitals after recovering from the virus, bringing the total number of recoveries to 278,267.

Egypt has so far received 72 million coronavirus vaccine doses, 38 million of which were administered, Khaled Abdel-Ghaffar, higher education minister and acting health minister said on Sunday.

Egypt is expected to receive 26 million doses of the Sinovac, Pfizer, AstraZeneca, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson vaccines in the near term, he noted.

The country has thus far allocated 1,079 vaccination centres nationwide and is expected to open more.

According to health officials, around 25 million citizens have been vaccinated in Egypt.

The government has set a goal to vaccinate 40 million citizens by the end of 2021.