Egypt's Presidential Adviser: Fast-spreading EG-5.2 does not require extra preventive measures

CAIRO - 23 August 2023: Presidential Adviser for Health and Prevention Affairs Mohamed Awad Tag El-Din has asserted the new COVID-19 variant EG-.5.2 does not require any additional preventive measures, as it is weaker than previous variants.

However, this new variant is fast-spreading, added Tag El-Din in televised remarks Wednesday.

The adviser said the preventive medicine department is strictly monitoring the latest developments about viruses and their variants in order to identify any changes in infection factors.

The symptoms of the virus are simple respiratory problems and there is no danger so far in all countries, he said.

Tag El-Din urged citizens to abide by preventive and precautionary measures, including wearing face masks to protect against the virus.

On, 22 August, Egypt announced that two cases of the recently emerged coronavirus variant "EG 5.2" have been detected. Cases of the new variant have already been identified in several countries worldwide.

Egypt's Ministry of Health revealed that tests from centers monitoring influenza-like illnesses, severe respiratory infections, and pneumonia confirmed the presence of the "Omicron EG 5.2" strain of the coronavirus in two patients. The ministry clarified that the clinical symptoms observed in these patients were mild, and both individuals are on their path to recovery.