{"id":553363,"date":"2021-12-01T03:54:56","date_gmt":"2021-12-01T03:54:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2021\/12\/01\/this-morning-booster-registration-open-post-offices-govt-facilities-closed-to-the-unvaxed-powell-moderna-comments-hit-markets\/"},"modified":"2021-12-01T03:54:56","modified_gmt":"2021-12-01T03:54:56","slug":"this-morning-booster-registration-open-post-offices-govt-facilities-closed-to-the-unvaxed-powell-moderna-comments-hit-markets","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2021\/12\/01\/this-morning-booster-registration-open-post-offices-govt-facilities-closed-to-the-unvaxed-powell-moderna-comments-hit-markets\/","title":{"rendered":"THIS MORNING: Booster registration open; Post offices + gov\u2019t facilities closed to the unvaxed; Powell, Moderna comments hit markets."},"content":{"rendered":"

Good morning, friends, and welcome to December. <\/strong>Our favourite month of the year is kicking off with the return of 2020-style travel restrictions abroad and new vaccine requirements here at home. Is anyone else feeling like a glitch in the matrix has turned us all into extras in some pre-apocalyptic version of Groundhog Day \u2014 or maybe Hot Tub Time Machine?<\/p>\n

<\/a> PSA #1- You can\u2019t get into a government facility, Egypt Post branch, or notary office starting today <\/strong>without proof of vaccination<\/strong> or a negative PCR test that\u2019s no older than 72 hours, cabinet spokesman Nader Saad told Kelma Akhira\u2019s Lamees El Hadidi last night (watch, runtime: 14:56<\/a>).<\/p>\n

The exception to the rule: <\/strong>Unvaccinated citizens will still be able to access hospitals<\/a> for treatment and police stations in case of an emergency.<\/p>\n

People who haven\u2019t been vaccinated WILL be able to go to the bank today. <\/strong>Customers can still enter bank branches without showing proof of vaccination \u2014 but will need to wear a face mask and adhering to other precautionary measures, Saad said yesterday.<\/p>\n

Wait, wasn\u2019t today supposed to be the first \u201cno jab, no bank day\u201d?<\/strong> Indeed it was: Local Development Ministry spokesperson Khaled Qassem made the announcement during a phone-in interview<\/a> on El Hekaya.<\/p>\n

<\/a> PSA<\/strong> #2- At-risk Egyptians can now register to receive their booster shots: <\/strong>The eligible groups \u2014 the elderly, people with chronic medical conditions, and people with high exposure to the virus such as medical staff \u2014 who have been fully vaccinated for over six months, can now register to get their booster shots on the Health Ministry\u2019s website (www.egcovac.mohp.gov.eg<\/a>), Saad announced on Kelma Akhira.<\/p>\n

PSA #3- Amid all of the travel restrictions, a faint ray of sunshine: <\/strong>Egyptian expats won\u2019t need to pay to renew Saudi visas from now through February, Saudi Arabia's General Directorate of Passports announced<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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THE BIG STORY ABROAD-<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/a> It wasn\u2019t a happy day in US markets yesterday<\/strong> after an ill-timed hawkish turn by Fed chief Jay Powell added fuel to the Omicron-fanned market volatility. Equity gauges across the world were already in the red by the time Powell spoke on Capitol Hill, driven lower by a pessimistic prediction by Moderna\u2019s CEO, who told the Financial Times<\/a> that there will be a \u201cmaterial drop\u201d in the efficacy of covid vaccines against the new variant. But the sell-off was soon exacerbated by the Fed chairman, who told a Senate committee<\/a> that the central bank could finish withdrawing stimulus \u201ca few months sooner\u201d than planned due to \u201chigh\u201d inflationary pressures.<\/p>\n

At close:<\/strong> The S&P 500 and the Dow both lost 1.9% and the Nasdaq fell 1.6%. Brent crude dropped almost 4% to new three-month lows, the greenback declined 0.4%, and US treasury yields fell.<\/p>\n

The EGX dodged the blow yesterday<\/strong>, closing before Powell spoke. The benchmark EGX30 closed up just over 1.6%.<\/p>\n

\u201cPowell just added gasoline to the fire by finally admitting that inflation isn\u2019t going away<\/strong> as fast as anyone would like,\u201d one strategist told Bloomberg<\/a>. \u201cA faster tapering is probably coming as a result, and that has markets worried the punch bowl is leaving the party.\u201d<\/p>\n

Asian markets are in the green this morning <\/strong>and futures suggest Wall Street will open in the green and shares in Toronto will be flat at the opening bell.<\/p>\n

The story is dominating the front pages of the global press this morning:<\/strong> AP<\/a> | Reuters<\/a> | Bloomberg<\/a> | WSJ<\/a> | FT<\/a> | CNBC<\/a>.<\/p>\n

CIRCLE YOUR CALENDAR-<\/strong><\/p>\n

It\u2019s a new month.<\/strong> The key news triggers to keep your eye on at the start of December:<\/p>\n