Egypt’s Health Ministry launched awareness campaigns on the COVID-19 outbreak during Eid al-Fitr, urging citizens to respect all necessary precautions.

Finance Minister Mohamed Maait said that the Egyptian president directed the concerned authorities to provide financial support to the health sector to address the impacts of the third wave of the coronavirus.

As per the presidential directives, allocations should help meet the requirements of hospitals from medical supplies and importation of COVID-19 vaccines, the minister noted.

In a statement on Friday, Maait said additional allocations hitting EGP13.2 billion have been offered to the health sector since the beginning of the current fiscal year to maintain the safety of citizens and reduce the spread of the global pandemic.

The government is closely following up on the repercussions of the third wave and taking all measures needed to curb its spread.

Health Ministry spokesperson Khaled Megahed also affirmed that awareness campaigns are still being launched in all provinces, especially as Egyptian celebrate Eid al-Fitr.

A number of teams are working to raise community awareness at public markets, railway stations, public transport, places of worship, salons, cafes, shopping centers, and villages, in cooperation with the sheiks and concerned authorities.

Egypt recorded 1,193 COVID-19 infections, and 59 deaths, raising the total number of infections to 242,120 cases, while the death toll stood at 14,150 deaths. The country also reported 179,261 recoveries.