By Nour El-Miligi
After a long period of time where coronavirus cases in Egypt were reported to be less than 200, people were led to think they will soon narrow down to zero. But according to yesterday’s daily tally, the country has witnessed a slight rise, reaching 206 cases. Thereby, PM Mostafa Madbouly advised the people to continue following preventative measures and take caution as well as intensifying them around the upcoming fall when the second wave is expected.
The sudden increase comes as a red flag that requires us to take the matter seriously. “The noticeable increase in the corona cases might push the government to tighten measures and impose penalties on those who violate the hygienic measures plan,” PM Madbouly clarified during Tuesday’s cabinet meeting. The statements were made in order to reinforce a sense of responsibility and seriousness to spare Egypt the worst-case scenario of relapsing and witnessing a drastic rise in death tolls like what happened in several countries.
The occurrence of a second wave is primarily associated with lower temperatures as well as a false sense of security, thinking that the country has passed the “dangerous phase” and that the pandemic is over, which eventually drives people to relax in terms of adhering to the precautionary measures, committing to wearing their face masks, or maintaining social distancing, Minister of Health Dr. Hala Zayed further explained.
Although the government has warned us about the second corona-wave, they were also keen to make sure they protect Egyptian citizens’ mental health by publishing a list of tips to combat anxious thoughts triggered by the virus, which simply includes following necessary preventive measures, or reaching out for medical help if you’re having a hard time coping with the stress.