Covid-19 was again at the top of the agenda on the nation’s talk shows, with President Abdel Fattah El Sisi’s vaccination leading coverage. The talking heads used El Sisi getting the jab to reinforce the message that all vaccines used in Egypt are safe. Kelma Akhira (watch, runtime: 4:44), Ala Mas’ouleety (watch, runtime: 4:39) and El Hekaya (watch, runtime 5:40) all had coverage.

Warnings of covid-19 surge: Presidential health advisor Mohamed Awad Tag Eldin told Ala Mas’ouleety in a phone interview said that recent increases in covid-19 cases are due to the public not adhering to precautionary measures especially in crowded public areas, and warned that further increases will put pressure on hospital beds and oxygen supplies (watch, runtime 16:49). Tag Eldin said it is legitimate for the public to have concerns over the vaccines but sought to assure viewers that no adverse effects have yet been detected in Egypt

School’s out early thanks to covid: The Education Ministry’s decision to give an early summer break to the public school students had also got widespread coverage on the airwaves last night. Education Minister Tarek Shawki told El Hekaya’s Amr Adib that the decision was initially taken by his ministry, not the country’s covid-19 crisis management committee, and said that most of the annual curriculum has already been covered (watch, runtime: 16:31). The decision will see some 21 mn students staying closer to home and will hopefully help curb the recent rise in cases, he said.

Adadiya exams will take place across the country in June, Shawki said. Thanaweya Amma students will take experimental exams in May and full simulation tests in June before sitting their final exams in July and August.

It’s business as usual at the nation’s universities: Higher Education Minister Khaled Abdel Ghaffar said universities would not break early for summer, telling Amr Adibi last night that currently there’s nothing to worry about (watch, runtime 6:32).

Why aren’t uni students getting a break too? Simply put, their hybrid learning model has been a lot more effective at preventing the spread of covid, Tag Eldin told Moussa. The government is closely monitoring universities and will take a similar decision if necessary, he said.

And finally: The resignation of Information Minister Osama Heikal was picked up by

El Hadidi (watch, runtime 1:47).