Egypt reported 533 new coronavirus cases on Sunday, bringing the total infections nationwide since the outbreak of the pandemic to 165,951. According to an official statement, the health ministry reported 53 new fatalities, bringing the death toll from the pandemic to 9,316. The statement said that 343 patients have been discharged after recovering from the virus, bringing the total number of recoveries to 129,636. Egypt obtained the first batch of the vaccine developed by China's Sinopharm in December and started a week ago to vaccinate medical staff at quarantine hospitals nationwide. On Sunday, Egypt received the first batch of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine, consisting of 50,000 doses, on board of an Emirates Airline plane coming from India. Health Minister Hala Zayed said on Sunday night that vaccine doses will be provided to people over 60 years of age starting mid-February. They will be followed by people suffering from chronic diseases of all ages and people inhabiting closed crowded areas such as prisons, Zayed added in media statements. Zayed said Egypt's first batch of AstraZeneca vaccine came from the company's branch in India and that the next batch is set to come either from India or South Korea. The minister added that India has obtained a certificate proving that its AstraZeneca vaccine is identical to that made by other branches of the British-Swedish company worldwide.
