Have you missed the most important coronavirus (COVID-19) updates of the week on the coronavirus in Qatar Weekly Update? Every Thursday, we take a moment to bring you all the updates and latest developments in the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) epidemic in Qatar.
Here's what happened in Week 10. Read below to know more about what's happening in Qatar and how the government is trying to control the situation in Week 11.
The Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) has announced the registration of 1,733 new confirmed cases of coronavirus (COVID-19) bringing the total number of positive cases in Qatar to date to 24,902, and has stated that 213 more people have recovered from the virus, bringing the total number of people that have recovered in Qatar to 3,356. To date, we have had 14 deaths from the virus in Qatar.
The Ministry stated that the new cases are due to expatriate workers who were infected with the virus as a result of contact with individuals who were previously infected, in addition to recording new cases of infection among groups of workers in different regions. The new cases have been identified after conducting investigations by the research and investigation teams of the MoPH.
Cases of infection have also increased among citizens and residents, as a result of contact with infected family members, who had been infected in the workplace or through visits and family gatherings. In this context, the Ministry affirmed that the high number of infections among citizens and residents is due to the lack of compliance by some with precautionary measures, the most important of which is physical distancing and reducing the need to leaving home. All the new infected cases have been quarantined where they are receiving the necessary medical care.
Providing the best care for COVID-19 recovered male patients, the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) opened a new field hospital with 504 beds, all single rooms, at Al Sheehaniya.
"The Labseer military field hospital located near Al Sheehaniya- Dukhan Road has started receiving patients," said Dr Abdullah al Naimi, clinical lead of the hospital on Wednesday.
The facility, built in two weeks time, already has about 100 COVID-19 recovered patients.
"The hospital is a collaboration between the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Public Health".
"The Ministry of Defence proposed this place to build a field hospital to manage and support COVID-19 cases in the country. We evaluated the place just three weeks ago and found it quite suitable.
"The Labseer military field hospital located near Al Sheehaniya- Dukhan Road has started receiving patients," said Dr. Abdullah al Naimi, clinical lead of the hospital on Wednesday.
The facility, built-in two weeks time, already has about 100 COVID-19 recovered patients.
The Ministry of Public Health opened Labseer Field Hospital in collaboration with the Ministry of Defense.#YourSafetyIsMySafety pic.twitter.com/UfYvGrMoeL
— وزارة الصحة العامة (@MOPHQatar) May 14, 2020
His Excellency (H.E.) Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Al Thani chaired the Cabinet regular meeting, held this evening via video conference.
After the meeting, H.E. Minister of Justice and Acting Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Dr. Issa bin Saad Al Jafali Al Nuaimi stated the following: At the beginning of the meeting, the Cabinet listened to the explanation presented by H.E. the Minister of Public Health on the latest developments to reduce the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19), where the Cabinet affirmed the continuation of the precautionary measures taken to combat this pandemic, and decided the following:
To compel all citizens and residents upon leaving house for any reason to wear masks, except in the case when a person is alone while driving a vehicle, and the Ministry of Interior takes the necessary measures in this regard.
In case of non-compliance with this decision, the penalties stipulated in Decree Law No. (17) of 1990 regarding the prevention of infectious diseases shall be applied to violator by imprisonment for a period not exceeding three years and a fine not exceeding QR (200,000) two hundred thousand , or one of these two penalties.
This decision is effective from Sunday, 17/5/2020, until further notice.
Qatar's strategy to respond to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic relies heavily on contact tracking and tracing, which enables the early identification of cases, including those who do not show symptoms. Contact tracing aims to reach positive cases as early as possible to help break the chains of transmission and reduce the spread of the infection in the community.
Over 135,000 COVID-19 tests have been conducted in Qatar so far and intense contact tracing and case finding have allowed for the identification of a large number of cases.
Approximately 25% of those tested by contact tracing are positive, most of which have no signs or symptoms. This high percentage reflects the effectiveness of the contact tracing process and that the right people are being tested.
The early detection of positive cases plays a key role in slowing the spread of the virus. It also allows for early treatment, when needed, to prevent potential complications, which some patients may suffer from if they are identified at later stages, especially if they suffer from existing medical conditions.
The MoPH announced the registration of 1,390 new confirmed cases of coronavirus (COVID-19) bringing the total number of positive cases in Qatar to 26,539, and stated that 124 more people recovered from the virus, bringing the total number of people that recovered in Qatar to 3,143. To date, we have had 14 deaths from the virus in Qatar.
The Ministry stated that the new cases were due to expatriate workers who were infected with the virus as a result of contact with individuals who were previously infected, in addition to recording new cases of infection among groups of workers in different regions. The new cases were identified after conducting investigations by the research and investigation teams of the MoPH.
Cases of infection also increased among citizens and residents, as a result of contact with infected family members, who had been infected in the workplace or through visits and family gatherings. In this context, the Ministry affirmed that the high number of infections among citizens and residents was due to the lack of compliance by some with precautionary measures, the most important of which is physical distancing and reducing the need to leaving home. All the new infected cases were quarantined where they were receiving the necessary medical care.
Since the beginning of the year, Hamad Medical Corporation’s (HMC) Ambulance Service has been central to the implementation of measures put in place by Qatar’s healthcare sector to protect the population from coronavirus (COVID-19).
“The COVID-19 pandemic presents many challenges that we have not had to manage before, yet it is something that we have planned and prepared for in recent years,” said Dr. Robert Owen, Chief Executive Officer of the Ambulance Service.
“Throughout the past decade, we have not only expanded capacity across our Ambulance Service but also advanced the quality of care we are able to provide to Qatar’s population. Part of this transformation has been to ensure we have the equipment and expertise to manage a pandemic like coronavirus (COVID-19). Our planning and preparation have meant we have been able to fully deliver services including the safe transportation of confirmed or suspected coronavirus (COVID-19) patients, and medical services within the Industrial Area,” added Dr. Owen.
Since the beginning of the year, the Ambulance Service has been central to the implementation of measures put in place by Qatar’s healthcare sector to protect the population from COVID-19#YourSafetyIsMySafety pic.twitter.com/jKfhNQLjy2
— وزارة الصحة العامة (@MOPHQatar) May 13, 2020
In cooperation with the Qatar Red Crescent Society (QRCS), the Ministry of Administrative Development, Labour and Social Affairs and the Ministry of Transport and Communications has supplied the labour city of Mukaynis with 1136 computers, through the Better Communication initiative, and based on the ministry's continuous keenness to provide comprehensive care for workers.
The computers provided in two batches will allow the workers who are subject to isolation to communicate with their relatives in their countries through the program, in addition to providing educational brochures available in several languages, and guiding them to take all precautionary measures to prevent infection with the coronavirus (COVID-19).
It is worth noting that the Better Communication program is supported by many partners, including Vodafone and Microsoft, Reach Out To Asia (ROTA), and the Social and Economic Survey Research Institute.
In line with the previously adopted decisions and measures to prevent and limit the spread of the coronavirus (COVID 19), and in order to protect the health and safety of citizens and residents
In line with the previously adopted decisions and measures to prevent and limit the spread of the coronavirus (COVID 19), and in order to protect the health and safety of citizens and residents, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry has issued Circular No. 22 of 2020 on easing restrictions on the activities of restaurants and cafés (coffee shops).
Restaurants and cafés (coffee shops) have been allowed to resume the activity of delivering or handing over orders to customers outside the business place.
The ministry said restaurants and cafés located in malls are exempted from this decision and are allowed to only process delivery orders. The ministry added that the exempted outlets are prohibited from handing over orders to customers both inside and outside the workplace.
Qatar, South Korea, Canada, Denmark and Sierra Leone launched Tuesday the Group of Friends of Solidarity for Global Health Security to combat the coronavirus Pandemic (COVID-19), in a virtual event to launch the group at the United Nations headquarters in New York.
H.E. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani expressed in a video message the delight of Qatar to participate with the Republic of Korea, Canada, Sierra Leone and Denmark, in launching this initiative, which he considered very important.
His Excellency affirmed the commitment of Qatar to work with the Group of Friends of Solidarity for Global Health Security to become a major platform for exchanging views on how to effectively respond to (COVID-19) through various forms of multilateral cooperation.
The MoPH announced the registration of 1,526 new confirmed cases of coronavirus (COVID-19) bringing the total number of positive cases in Qatar to 25,149, and stated that 179 more people recovered from the virus, bringing the total number of people that recovered in Qatar to 3,019. One death was recorded, so all together there were 14 deaths from the virus..
The ministry clarified that the new cases were due to persons from the expatriate labour force who were infected with the virus as a result of contact with individuals who were previously infected, in addition to recording new cases of infection among groups of workers in different regions, during conducting investigations by the research and investigation teams of the MoPH, which contributed to early detection of cases.
Cases of infection and infection with the virus also increased among citizens and residents, as a result of contact with infected family members, who had been infected with their roles in the workplace or through visits and family gatherings.
Equipment designed to protect healthcare workers against COVID-19 is being developed in the laboratories of a Qatar Foundation partner university.
The Fabrication Lab – or Fab Lab - Team at Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts in Qatar (VCUarts Qatar) has been working with a group of fabricators and universities in the US for the past two months to produce protective face shields, supporting efforts to keep those in the frontline of the ongoing global pandemic safe. After numerous prototypes were made and tested, the team is now producing its first shields.
In continuation of the measures Qatar has taken to limit the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and to meet the public needs in a manner consistent with medical and preventive guidelines, the MOCI has decided to reopen money exchange service offices with the mandatory application of precautionary measures, starting Tuesday 12 May.
Procedures include requiring visitors to wear masks, following social distancing guidelines, measuring temperature, and allowing a certain number of customers in at the same time, in addition to applying other preventive measures specified by the MoPH, provided that the working hours are limited to six hours a day for employees working at money exchange service offices and allowing overtime for two paid hours, so that the total of working hours does not exceed eight hours. Money exchange service offices are also required to take the necessary measures to prevent crowding, including providing instructions, guidelines, and security personnel to assist customers and make sure social distancing guidelines are followed.
The MoPH will open on Tuesday the field hospital in the Industrial Area, which will be dedicated to receiving all patients through the emergency department, outpatient clinics, and short stay with a section to allocated to receiving the coronavirus (COVID-19) suspected cases.
The field hospital run by the Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) will start providing its services to the residents of the Industrial Area as of Tuesday after completing its construction in less than four weeks.
The hospital will contribute to national efforts to tackle and limit the spread of the COVID-19 while providing reception and examination services for suspected cases.
The MoPH closed down a private medical centre and a private specialised clinic and referred them to the Health Prosecution for violating the decision to suspend some non-emergency health services in private health facilities, as part of precautionary measures to combat the coronavirus (COVID-19) epidemic and to ensure the safety of patients and medical workers. The Ministry detected the violations during its inspection visits to health facilities in the country. The Ministry recently closed down five private medical centres and referred them to the Health Prosecution for violating the decision.
Within the framework of the inspection campaigns carried out by the MADLSA at the Industrial Area in cooperation with the competent authorities, the Ministry recorded violations for five companies for not adhering to the precautionary measures that were announced during the opening of the Industrial Area. The companies, which operate in the activity of workshops, garages, and carpentry, violated health and safety requirements in the workplace and housing and did not adhere to wearing masks. The Ministry issued records of a violation in this regard.
The Government Communication Office (GCO) released a statement on the new entry and exit procedures for the remainder of the Industrial Area. According to the statement, the Government of Qatar will apply new entry and exit procedures to the remaining parts of the Industrial Area, from Street 34 to Street 54 from Monday 11 May. The decision is a continuation of the precautionary measures taken by Qatar to protect the health and safety of all citizens and residents and ensure that businesses are able to function without exposing the community to the risk of infection.
The new procedures allow entry and exit for vehicles and individuals, including employers, employees and residents, provided that all precautionary measures set by relevant government bodies are followed, including those from the MoPH, MOCI and MADLSA.
The new procedures include adhering to social distancing measures, wearing masks, operating 505t capacity on worker transportation, and continuous sanitisation. In addition, employers are required to ensure that all workers who are entering and exiting the area are able to download and use the Ehteraz mobile application.
The Mental Health Service of HMC launched a set of new services on the 16000 unified helpline to assist members of the public in accessing specialized psychological support services during the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19).
Dr. Majid Al Abdullah, Head of Mental Health Services at HMC, said that the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic affected thousands of people physically, but affected the mental and emotional health of many more people in Qatar. He noted that the coronavirus (COVID-19) forced people to change many aspects of their lives as the routine has turned upside down for many people, explaining that even in normal circumstances, many people may experience some form of stress or psychological disorder, but with the emergence of the virus and its effect on life today can be a major cause of stress and anxiety.
The helpline includes a team of experienced mental health professionals including psychiatrists, psychologists, social researchers and nursing personnel from various institutions. Team members are assessing the situation and providing support for callers of four major groups: children, adolescents and their parents, adults, the elderly, and front-line health care workers.
The main languages available on the helpline include Arabic and English, but the team responsible for receiving calls includes cadres who speak other languages such as Hindi, Malayalam and Urdu
The MoPH announced the registration of 1,103 new confirmed cases of coronavirus (COVID-19) bringing the total number of positive cases in Qatar to 20,769, and stated that 87 more people recovered from the virus, bringing the total number of people that recovered in Qatar to 2,840. All together there were 14 deaths from the virus.
The Ministry explained that most of the new cases were due to expatriate workers who hadbeen infected with the virus as a result of contact with individuals who had been previously infected, in addition to recording new cases from within groups of workers from various regions. These cases were identified as a result of investigations carried out by the Ministry. There was also an increase in the number of infections among citizens and residents who had contact with coronavirus (COVID-19) positive family members, who had in turn been infected at the workplace or other locations. All the new infected cases were quarantined where they were receiving the necessary medical care.
Engineer Bashir Ahamed Amin from Bangladesh contracted the coronavirus (COVID) in April here in Doha. He tells his story from when he was diagnosed with coronavirus (COVID-19) to the medical treatment and recovery process he went through in Qatar. Thank you Eng. Bashir for sharing your story with the ILQ Community.
The Ministry of Education and Higher Education confirmed that all precautionary measures would be taken in secondary school exams for religious institute students that are taking place these days for the academic year 2019/2020.
The Ministry said that 48 students had been distributed to (6) committees by (8) students in each committee, in addition to allocating places to wait for students before the start of the exam with the same committees mechanism, in implementation of the procedures for physical distancing among students.
The tests are set to continue until 14 May 14, according to schedule, to stop and resume from 1 to 13 June.
MADLSA conducted inspection campaigns to ensure companies adhere to the precautionary measures necessary to curb the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19), and the compliance with occupational safety and health requirements at housing and workplaces. In this context, the Ministry recorded eight violations during its inspection campaigns by a number of companies.
According to the MADLSA , based on the decisions that all workers are required to wear masks while working, two companies in the Lusail and Al Wakrah areas were violated for not committing to wearing the masks, and a company made violation for not committing to the capacity of passengers 50% on the bus at the Al Wakrah area as well as five companies for non compliance with occupational safety and health requirements at the residence site at the industrial area.
The MADLSA referred the companies' officials to the security authorities to take the necessary measures and edit seizure records in violation of occupational safety and health requirements.
The Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) has just announced the registration of 1,189 new confirmed cases of coronavirus (COVID-19) bringing the total number of positive cases in Qatar to date to 19,753, and has stated that 254 more people have recovered from the virus, bringing the total number of people that have recovered in Qatar to 2,753. One death has also been recorded in the last 24 hours, so all together there have been 14 deaths from the virus to date.
The Ministry explains that most of the new cases are due to expatriate workers who have been infected with the virus as a result of contact with individuals who have been previously infected, in addition to recording new cases from within groups of workers from various regions. These cases have been identified as a result of investigations carried out by the Ministry.
There was also an increase in the number of infections among citizens and residents who had contact with COVID-19 positive family members, who had in turn been infected at the workplace or other locations. All the new infected cases have been quarantined where they are receiving the necessary medical care.
The ministry reports that the new death was a 54-year-old resident who had received medical care in the Intensive Care Unit and was suffering from chronic diseases. The Ministry of Public Health offers sincere condolences and great sympathy to the family of the deceased.
QCRS has called on people to contribute to various relief funds to fight against the coronavirus pandemic and to create positive steps to help the vulnerable. Everyone can now support directly the response coordinated by QRCS in Qatar. People and organizations who want to support QRCS can now donate to provide for the most vulnerable people.
Scroll all the way down to know more about different relief funds of QCRS and contribute to helping combat the coronavirus pandemic in Qatar, and make a difference as it's the hight time to act.
A series of initiatives to control coronavirus (COVID-19) for the benefit of 12,000 persons by providing health and psychological services for those at risk of infection at quarantine locations & raising awareness of workers at health centers, companies and factories at a total cost of QR 5,650,000.
Provision of health care, logistics and administrative support (medical professionals, security, services, etc.) for the benefit of 12,000 persons at quarantine locations at a total cost of QR 1,750,000.
Facilitating psychological support for the benefit of 12,000 quarantined persons to boost their morale throughout the isolation period at a total cost of QR 250,000.
Provision of health-protective supplies for the benefit of 12,000 persons such as masks and sanitisers for protection against the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak at a total cost of QR 1,095,000.
Distribution of food parcels & vouchers to 3,666 workers of farms & contracting companies containing diverse food items such as vegetable oil, rice, tea, sugar, salt & pasta at a total cost of QR 274,950
Providing medications to treat 65 patients with aging-associated diseases, eye diseases, thalassemia, congenital defects, or cancer at a total cost of QR 1,001,000.
To help people with other needs like personal hygiene kits, food vouchers, water, first aid kits; you may follow this donation link: www.qrcs.org.qa/
The MOCI closed a restaurant for violating precautionary measures to prevent the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19), as announced in a post in its social media account. Sukar Pasha restaurant in Katara Cultural Village violated the Ministry’s circular by preventing requests to be submitted in all restaurants and cafes in the country and preventing the presence and sitting of customers as precautionary measures to counter the coronavirus (COVID-19), mentioned in its tweet. The restaurant is closed for a period of 15 days.
Dr. Moza Al Hail, Executive Director of Pharmacy Department at HMC has confirmed that the drug delivery service launched by the HMC, mid-April for all patients in cooperation with Qatar Post had achieved great success and enabled the beneficiaries to obtain their medicines in a timely manner without the need to go to healthcare facilities as part of efforts to combat the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19).
The MoPH announced the registration of 1130 new confirmed cases of the coronavirus (COVID-19), and 129 new recovered cases, bringing the total number of recovered cases in Qatar to 2499. The Ministry also announced one new death from the virus.
The Ministry explained that most of the new cases were due to expatriate workers who had been infected with the virus as a result of contact with individuals who had been previously infected, in addition to recording new cases from within groups of workers from various regions. These cases had been identified as a result of investigations carried out by the Ministry.There was also an increase in the number of infections among citizens and residents who had contact with coronavirs (COVID-19) positive family members, who had in turn been infected at the workplace or other locations. All the new infected cases were quarantined where they were receiving the necessary medical care.
The Ministry reported that the new death was a 52-year-old resident who had received the medical care in the Intensive Care Unit and was suffering from chronic diseases.
MADLSA called on the owners of companies and workers to adhere to observe all preventive measures and precautionary measures specified by the competent authorities in the state, to ensure the safety of workers during their entry and exit with random thermal inspection, within the gradual opening of the Industrial Area, which started with streets 1 and 2 and Al Wakalat Street since 22 April.
The Ministry stressed the need to adhere to the regulation of the process of exit and entry of individuals with precautionary measures to prevent coronavirus (COVID-19) and released a guideline ‘Organising Exit and Entry Procedures’ for Industrial Area on its website, prepared by the Permanent Committee for Industrial Area. These procedures will be effective starting from 5 May.
until the issuance of other procedures.
The MoPH announced 1311 confirmed new cases of coronavirus (OVID-19), and 84 people having recovered from the virus, bringing the total number of recoveries in Qatar to 2370 cases.
The Ministry explained that most of the new cases were due to expatriate workers who had been infected with the virus as a result of contact with individuals who had been previously infected, in addition to recording new cases from within groups of workers from various regions. These cases had been identified as a result of investigations carried out by the Ministry. The remainder of new cases infected with the virus came from citizens and residents who contracted the virus from members of their families, who in turn had contracted the virus through their workplaces or other places where they had been to exposed to infected people. All the new infected cases were quarantined where they wre receiving the necessary medical care.
The MOPH, in collaboration with PHCC, HMC Ambulance, HMC Laboratories and Qatar University operated drive through swabbing hubs at three PHCC health centres. The aim of this exercise was to conduct a community survey and gain more insight into community transmission and asymptomatic cases, which will in turn inform policy decisions.
H.E. Minster of Public Health Dr. Hanan Al Kuwari said:
"We are constantly looking a new ways of identifying any undetected cases in the community so that we help to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and provide the appropriate care and support to people who have the virus but who are showing no symptoms. We have used drive through testing in the past successfully and we invite you to join this latest drive through initiative. I urge everyone who receives an SMS to take part and get tested."
In line with national guidance, the swabbing hubs at PHCC health tested 2500 members of the public at three Primary Health Care Centres: Al Thumama, Al Waab and Leabaib staffed by PHCC, HMC and Qatar University Volunteers.
This service was not a drop-in service and only those who meet the nationally agreed criteria for research and have been asked to attend will be given the test. Those referred to the drive through swabbing hubs arrived in their own car and did not enter the building. They were registered and asked a series of questions for research purposes, then proceeded to be swabbed by specially trained Health Worker. The swabbing process involved a cotton bud being inserted into the nose, the sample was then securely stored and transported to HMC Laboratory for analysis. Once participants were swabbed at one of the drive through hubs, they will receive results from the MoPH as soon as possible by phone.
Members of the public called for the test were not suspect coronavirus (COVID-19) patients.
93% of the coronavirus (COVID-19) cases in the country are mild and Qatar's health care system is strong thanks to the guidance of His Highness the Amir, the Minister of Public Health, H.E. Dr. Hanan Mohammed Al Kuwari, said in an interview last week.
H.E. Dr. Hanan talked to Al Jazeera, Thursday night, about the efforts of Qatar government in tackling the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19).
In a press conference held on the evening of 7 May by the MoPH, Dr. Abdullatif Mohamed Al Khal, Chair of the National Strategic Group on COVID-19 and Head of the Infectious Diseases Division at the Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) and Dr. Ahmed Al Mohammed - Acting Chairman of Hamad Medical Corporation's Intensive Care Units, talked about the latest developments and statistics with regards to the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) in Qatar.
The MoPH announced the registration of 918 new confirmed cases of coronavirus (COVID-19), as well as 216 new recovered cases, bringing the total number of recovered cases in Qatar to 2,286.
The Ministry explained that most of the new cases were due to expatriate workers who had been infected with the virus as a result of contact with individuals who had been previously infected, in addition to recording new cases from within groups of workers from various regions. These cases were identified as a result of investigations carried out by the Ministry.
The remainder of new cases infected with the virus came from citizens and residents who contracted the virus from members of their families, who in turn had contracted the virus through their workplaces or other places where they had been to exposed to infected people. All the new infected cases were quarantined where they were receiving the necessary medical care.
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