Egypt Tightens COVID-19 Safety Rules on Unvaccinated Officials, Students
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As COVID-19 ravages Egypt, the government seeks to impose a higher vaccination rate in a bit to mitigate the repercussions of the pandemic.
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A man disinfects the airport’s closed-down resort in Hurghada, June 18, 2020 (AFP)
Egypt prohibited Monday non-inoculated officials and students from government offices and universities unless they show a negative PCR test.
Officials who are yet to receive at least a single dose of a COVID-19 vaccine are obligated to show a PCR test "every three days" to be granted access into their workplace, the Tourism and Antiquities Ministry said following a government order.
The same rules apply for students to access universities, state newspaper Al-Ahram said.
Cairo said restrictions would be extended to apply to all Egyptians as early as December 1.
Egypt's vaccination rate is lower than the government wants, therefore it is aiming to drive it up, as only 40 million of Egypt's 102 million have received at least one jab, which amounts to nearly 41% of its population.
Only 14 million of the population - roughly 13.75% of the population - have received their two shots.
Egypt has officially registered nearly 400,000 COVID-19 cases so far, including 19,499 deaths.
