A Russian delegation has finished carrying out health checks in airports and hotels in Sharm El Sheikh and Hurghada ahead of a resumption of Russian flights to Red Sea resort towns on 9 August, a source in Egypt’s Civil Aviation Ministry told Russian news agency Tass on Friday. The source cited a decrease in the number of covid-19 cases as proof of the efficacy of preventative measures promoted by the government.

The assessment may determine whether Russia increases flights in the coming months: The country’s covid crisis center said last month that authorities could decide to increase the number of weekly flights after the epidemiological team has visited. The delegation will submit its report “in the near future,” according to Tass.

Why has Russia been keeping us on our toes? The delegation wants to make sure of the situation in Egypt before direct flights between Russia and Red Sea resorts resume. Direct flights between Russia and Red Sea destinations have been suspended since the 2015 Metrojet crash, and Moscow has been extra cautious about their resumption, initially for security reasons, but more recently because of the pandemic.