Egypt to require all public servants get vaccinated or present weekly negative test

Egypt’s government announced on Sunday it is requiring all public servants to be fully vaccinated against the coronavirus or present weekly negative tests before entering their workplaces, The Associated Press reported.

According to the government’s statement, the requirements will take effect starting Nov. 15. The new measure also will require public citizens to show proof of vaccination to enter the government buildings starting Dec. 1, according to the AP. 

Egypt’s new mandate comes as the country is suffering through another wave of the pandemic. Egypt’s Health Ministry reported 871 new COVID-19 cases and 44 deaths on Sunday. 

Earlier this year, the government mandated vaccines for employees at tourist areas and resorts on the Red Sea and other areas in an effort to revive its tourism economy. 

The country has also stepped up efforts to get students, teachers, and university and school workers vaccinated against the virus, the AP reported. 

Egyptian Health Minister Hala Zayed said the government has secured more than 62 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine with 7.8 million more doses expected to arrive later this month, adding about 31.7 million shots have been given to citizens since the vaccine rollout began in January. Yet less than 10 percent of the population is fully vaccinated. 

Since the beginning of the pandemic Egypt has reported 318,460 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 17,970 COVID-19-related deaths.