Egypt's PM calls for heeding preventive measures against coronavirus

CAIRO – 17 August 2020: Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouli has stressed the need to abide by preventive measures to face the coronavirus pandemic in the country.

"This is important to maintain low rates of infection recorded over the past period and to curb a further outbreak of the disease in the coming stage, especially with a new academic year around the corner," Madbouli said in a meeting Monday to follow up the medical condition in Egypt.

The meeting was attended by Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Hala Zayed, Minister of Health and Population, Mohamed Awad Tajuddin, Advisor to the President of the Republic for Health and Prevention Affairs, and many high-level officials.

Health Minister Hala Zayed spoke regarding the government's efforts to secure a coronavirus vaccine, noting that a national committee is now overseeing clinical research on produced vaccines.

Zayed said that a periodic report is being referred to the medical group led by Madbouly on the latest developments related to the virus.

Health Minister added that she will review several suggested scenarios for students’ return to schools and universities with the ministers of education and higher education.

A high committee to face coronavirus will be posted on the outcome of talks between the three ministers, Zayed said.

The Minister of Higher Education indicated that several decisions were taken at the meeting of the Supreme Council of University Hospitals regarding the Corona pandemic.

The decisions that were taken, such as keeping isolation hospitals operating at capacity until the beginning of September. The minister indicated that a plan had also been developed to deal with the possibility of the second wave of the Coronavirus.