The Health Ministry will begin importing two new meds that it plans to add to its covid treatment protocols, Health Minister Hala Zayed said following today’s cabinet meeting today. Clinical trials for Bamlanivimab and Etesevimab used for mild and moderate covid cases have proven successful, she added. The treatment makes symptoms less severe, reducing the need for hospitalization and the probability of death. Agreements to import the medication have already been signed and they should arrive “soon,” she stated.

IN OTHER COVID NEWS-

US sees the severity of covid spread here as ‘moderate’: As for our overall performance in limiting the spread of covid, Zayed points out that the the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) currently ranks Egypt at level 2 in terms of cumulative covid cases and infection rate per 100k persons, which is considered “moderate.” The Health Ministry reported last night that there were 57 new covid-19 infections yesterday, up from 53 the day before. Egypt has now disclosed a total of 284,472 confirmed cases of covid-19. The ministry also reported 10 new deaths, bringing the country’s total death toll to 16,550.

YOUR MANDATORY GLOBAL COVID STORY- The UK has loosened travel restrictions for a number of countries, including France, India, Bahrain, the UAE and Qatar, according to a government release. These countries will be moved from the red list to its medium-risk “amber” list, meaning arrivals will no longer need to quarantine in a government-approved hotel. Six other European countries were moved to the green list, with individuals not needed to quarantine no matter their vaccination status.

Umm El Donia is still on the UK’s red list, where it was placed in June due to the risks of people contracting new covid variants in the country. Georgia, Mexico, La Reunion and Mayotte joined us on the most recently updated red list.