The prospect of a third wave of covid-19 is looming: Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly joined President Abdel Fattah El Sisi in warning of possible increases in covid-19 cases during Ramadan during the weekly cabinet meeting yesterday.

The Health Ministry reported 641 new covid-19 infections yesterday, down from 648 the day before. The ministry also reported 40 new deaths, bringing the country’s total death toll to 11,720. Egypt has now disclosed a total of 197,350 confirmed cases of covid-19.

Supplies of the Oxford / AstraZeneca vaccine to some 190 countries under the Gavi / Covax scheme could face delays as India temporarily suspends all exports of the jab as its own case tally soars, BBC reported, citing unnamed Foreign Ministry sources. Egypt is waiting on a 5 mn dose shipment of the vaccine through the Covax scheme, which Health Minister Hala Zayed recently said is expected to land by the end of this month.

Europe moves to embrace “vaccine nationalism”: The European Commission has proposed tougher export controls on covid-19 vaccines, as cases of the virus increase amid a faltering vaccination campaign, according to the Associated Press. The EU said it would block exports to countries on a case-by-case basis, intimating in no uncertain terms that the UK — a newly divorced member of the bloc that has surged ahead with its vaccine rollout — would be the primary target of restrictions. The UK has given at least one vaccine to 45% of its adults, compared to less than 14% in the EU.