Egyptian government requires Covid-19 vaccinations for public servants to enter workplace

Egypt's government will soon require public servants to have a vaccination certificate or show a weekly negative Covid-19 test before entering their workplaces.

The government announced the new measures late on Sunday. It said the requirements will be applied starting on November 15.

The measures also require proof of vaccination to enter government buildings starting December 1, according to a government statement.

The idea is to encourage people to get vaccinations as the country - of over 100 million people - suffers through a fourth wave of the pandemic.

Egyptian authorities arrested three people accused of dumping thousands of unused coronavirus vaccines found last week in a water drainhttps://t.co/4obs7x3nNT

— The New Arab (@The_NewArab) October 11, 2021

Health Minister Hala Zayed said the government has secured more than 62 million shots of Covid-19 vaccine, with 7.8 million more shots expected to arrive this month.

She said around 31.7 million shots have been given to residents since the vaccination campaign was launched in January.

The government has stepped up efforts in recent weeks to vaccinate students, teachers, university and school workers.

Earlier this year, Egypt mandated vaccinations for workers at tourist sites and resorts on the Red Sea and elsewhere in efforts to revive its battered tourism sector.

Egypt has seen a slight surge in confirmed cases in recent weeks, with an average of 800 cases reported every day this month.

The Health Ministry registered 871 cases and 44 fatalities on Sunday, bringing the tally to around 318,460 confirmed cases, including 17,970 deaths.

However, the actual numbers of Covid-19 cases, like elsewhere in the world, are thought to be far higher in part due to limited testing.