For a second time in a row, Christmas and the New Year’s celebrations, as well as most major events around the world, have been overshadowed by the Covid pandemic, with global infections rising to 284.5 million and deaths reaching 5.421 million till on Thursday.
Despite constant warnings against gatherings for fear of surge in infections, most people are expected to hold celebrations and enjoy their time.
As many Egyptians have been making preparations to celebrate the New Year tonight, and the Christmas (January 7th), the Ministry of Health announced on Thursday preparations to secure safe celebrations.
This is part of the ministry’s plans for medical security on such occasions and events, said Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Khaled Abdel-Ghaffar, who is also Acting Minister of Health.
According to Abdel-Ghaffar, hospitals around the country have been put on high alert for potential emergencies. Necessary medications and supplies have also been provided. Certain hospitals have been set for potential medical evacuations, and quick response teams are on high alert.
The ministry’s operations room has already held several coordination meetings for all the affiliated sectors and the Supreme Council of University Hospitals, and set a joint medical security plan, the minister said.
For his part, Health Ministry’s Spokesman Houssam Abdul-Ghaffar said that Egyptian Ambulance Authority in all governorates has taken maximum level of readiness. Ambulances will be operating near gathering places, churches, public parks during the New Year and Christmas celebrations.
Coptic Egyptians, who make up the largest portion of Christians in the country, celebrate Christmas on January 7th. The country is also home to other denominations, which observe Christmas on December 25.
By the same token, Interior Minister Mahmoud Tawfik announced raising the national security alert to the highest level for the New Year and Christmas celebrations.
Tawfik held a meeting for top security officials and ordered maximum vigilance and intensified measures to secure vital facilities, places of worship, and tourist destinations during the occasions.
The minister stressed the importance of guaranteeing good treatment of people, with full respect to their human rights while carrying out the security strategy.
Egypt’s Coptic Orthodox Church has recently announced it would hold the Christmas mass on January 6 at the Cathedral of the Nativity of Christ at the New Administrative Capital, with no worshippers due to Covid-19 concerns. The mass will be broadcast live on television, according to news reports.
