Latest in Health Highlight
Latest in Health

African Union provisionally secures 270m COVID-19 vaccine doses for 55 countries
Afreximbank will facilitate payments through advance procurement commitment guarantees of up to $2bn to manufacturers

Coronavirus death toll among Egyptian doctors rises to 327: Medical Syndicate
About 10,000 doctors have been infected with the virus so far across Egypt

1,654 PCR tests conducted at World Handball Championship: Health Ministry
Total of 234 participants receive medical care on Saturday, with all in stable health

Sports, Health Ministers discuss measures against COVID-19 during handball world cup
A high-level meeting has taken place to review health measures against the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) at the 2021 World Men’s Handball Championship.

India’s Modi launches nationwide rollout of COVID-19 vaccine drive
Over 3,000 sites across India to be virtually connected during launch, with about 100 beneficiaries to be vaccinated at each site on inaugural day

Five African countries account for 69% of total COVID-19 cases in Africa
The total COVID-19 cases in Africa amounted to 3,176,575 as of Friday, Africa CDC said, while the death toll related to the pandemic stood at 76,752

14.7% increase in health expenditures during H1 of FY 2020/21: Maait
Mohamed Maait, Minister of Finance, said that the first half (H1) of fiscal year (FY) 2020/21 witnessed an increase in health sector expenditures by about 14.7%, mainly directed to finance medical requirements to combat the novel coronavirus pandemic, and increased allocations for health insurance. The minister added that these expenditures included funding to continue supporting …

Jordan launches nationwide COVID-19 vaccination campaign
Jordan’s nationwide COVID-19 vaccination campaign intends to cover at least some 20 percent of the Jordanian population.

Japan to halt entry of all non-resident foreigners to curb coronavirus
The essential shutdown of borders of Japan to all non-resident foreigners will be kept in place until February 7

Health Ministry, Tahya Misr Fund, TMG sign protocol providing 4 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines
Egypt’s Minister of Health and Population Hala Zayed signed a cooperation protocol, on Tuesday, with the Tahya Misr Fund and Talaat Moustafa Group (TMG) to provide vaccines for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) to two million citizens. Zayed said that TMG has donated to ensure that the coronavirus vaccine will be given to two million low-income …

Cleopatra Hospitals invest EGP 1bn in developing medical technology since 2015
Cleopatra Hospitals Group has invested more than EGP 1bn in quality, infrastructure, and medical technology development since 2015.

No medical oxygen shortages reported for 3 days: Egyptian Health Minister
Earlier this month, 4 coronavirus patients receiving treatment at Al Husseiniya Central Hospital in Sharqeya Governorate died, due to oxygen shortage

New COVID-19 strain can deceive PCR tests: Epidemiologist
UK first reports cases of new strain in December, causing renewed travel restrictions

UK raises $1bn to help vulnerable countries obtain COVID-19 vaccines
UK has recently committed £1m to Egypt, to support rapid response, surveillance, infection control capacities

Egyptian-manufactured Sovaldi shows promising results against COVID-19: Virologist
Manufactured by local pharmaceutical companies, there are plans to export promising drug

Planning Ministry delegation inspects hospitals in 3 governorates
Al-Takamul Hospitals are important, necessary in implementing comprehensive health insurance, says Hala El-Said

Africa CDC says continent’s confirmed coronavirus cases pass 2.95 million
South Africa currently has the most coronavirus cases in the African continent with 1,170,590, followed by Morocco with 448,678 infections

Government reviews digitisation process at universities, university hospitals
Review looked at implementation of electronic examination system, automation of university hospitals and digitalisation at universities

Health Ministry launches initiative to monitor home isolation for COVID-19 cases
Egyptian Drug Authority starts registration for Oxford coronavirus vaccine

Egypt allocates 500 hospitals for COVID-19 patients: Madbouly
Health Ministry forms central room to monitor daily supply of oxygen to patients in need

Poverty increases vulnerability to mental health conditions: Study
Eastern Mediterranean countries are witnessing higher rates of mental health disorders than global averages

UK PM imposes new coronavirus lockdown on England
Scottish First Minister also announced that Scotland would enter a new lockdown from midnight on Monday, as well as a shutdown of schools until Feb. 1

Lebanon imposes lockdown for 25 days amid surge in coronavirus cases
Lebanon’s number of coronavirus infections increased on Monday by 2,861 to 192,139, while death toll went up by 13 to 1,512.

Egyptian biotechnology company to produce local COVID-19 vaccine
COVID-Vac1 has proven highly effective, more human vaccines will be produced, says Vaccine Valley CEO Mohsen Badawy

Senator submits request for briefing on ‘oxygen shortage’ at Egypt’s hospitals
Prosecution summons Al Husseiniya Hospital director, doctors over COVID-19 death in ICU

5 new COVID-19 deaths among Egyptian doctors, raising total to 276: Medical Syndicate
The Egyptian Medical Syndicate (EMS) announced, on Monday, that five new fatalities have been reported among doctors due to complications related to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). The doctors are: Yasser Ahmed Meera; Fathy Mohamed Ali; Hazem Al-Kashef; Amr Abdelghani; and Alaa Ahmed. The latest deaths brought the total number of medics in Egypt to have …

Kenya extends coronavirus night curfew for 3 months
The president added all forms of public events and gatherings including political and roadside gatherings, shall remain suspended for the next 60 days.

Update: Prosecution investigates into Sharqeya’s COVID-19 deaths due to oxygen shortage
All hospitals have medical oxygen supplies they need, according to Health Minister Hala Zayed

Egypt to start vaccination against COVID-19 soon, with 40m doses in stock
Elderly and those with chronic illnesses will be prioritised in vaccination programme

US talk show host Larry King hospitalized with COVID-19: report
King hosted CNN’s “Larry King Live” for over two and a half decades and retired in 2010 after clocking in at more than 6,000 episodes.