Egypt reported 399 new coronavirus cases on Wednesday, bringing the total infection tally officially to 291,172 since the outbreak began in February 2020, said Health Ministry in its daily coronavirus update statement. 

Egypt has been witnessing a steady but slight daily increase in infections since the start of August, with health officials stressing the fourth wave of coronavirus – which has already begun in Egypt – will reach its peak in late September and early October.

The ministry also reported in its statement for Wednesday that 13 new deaths were registered, raising the total number of deaths from the virus to 16,824. 

765 patients have been discharged after recovering from the virus, the ministry said, raising the total number of recoveries to 244,062. 

Egypt has been recently intensifying the vaccination campaign to inoculate 40 million citizens by the end of 2021, of which Health Minister Hala Zayed said on Sunday 10 millions had taken at least one shot.

Giving booster shots of the COVID-19 vaccines is being planned by the state for those who were inoculated at least 6-8 months ago, according to Zayed.

2 million doses of coronavirus vaccines have been allocated to public servants nationwide so far, the minister said in a separate statement on Wednesday.

She stated that more than 600,000 employees of the Ministry of Education had been vaccinated during the past two weeks in preparation for the start of the new academic year.

Zayed also stated that 500,000 doses had been distributed among universities, and 500,000 more would be delivered the following week.