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 13. Read below to know more about what's happening in Qatar and how the government is trying to control the situation in Week 14.
The Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) today announces the registration of 1581 confirmed new cases of coronavirus (COVID-19), with 1926 people having recovered from the virus in the last 24 hours, bringing the total number of recovered people in Qatar to 39,468.
Over the last 24 hours, the Ministry also recorded 14 new cases being admitted to intensive care due to the virus, bringing the total number of cases in intensive care to 239.
The Ministry states 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 that contributed to early detection of cases.
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.The new confirmed cases of infection have been introduced to complete isolation in the various medical facilities in the country, where they receive the necessary healthcare according to the health status of each case.
The MoPH reveals that infections increased due to family gatherings and visits between friends and extended families, and people ignoring the preventive measures recommended by the concerned authorities; the most important of which is staying at home and maintaining social distance.
The Ministry of Commerce and Industry closes the Centrepoint located in the city of Barwa Al-Wakrah for a period of 15 days, subject to renewal, announced in a tweet on the MOCI Twitter page. The temporary closure is due to the violation of the closure of the retail stores in the commercial complexes and shopping malls that were announced by the Ministry as a precautionary measure to confront the coronavirus (COVID-19) to maintain public health.
Qatar Red Crescent Society (QRCS) has been announced by Ipsos, the worlds third largest research agency, as one of 10 Qatari organisations that proved most supportive in dealing with the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
The top 10 choices were as follows (in an alphabetical order): Al Meera, Doha Bank, MoPH, Ooredoo, Qatar Airways, Qatar Charity (QC), Qatar Foundation (QF), Qatar National Bank (QNB), Qatar Petroleum (QP), and QRCS.
According to the report, QRCSs successful Coronavirus control efforts were spotlighted in many research studies by Ipsos and other multinational firms concerned with the pandemic.
Dr. Abdulaziz Al Khulaifi, cardiac surgeon and Chairman of the Cardiothoracic Surgery Department at Hamad Medical Corporation's (HMC) Heart Hospital says the story of a 43-year-old resident who is currently recovering from life-saving heart surgery performed earlier this week is a cautionary tale for anyone who may be experiencing symptoms of a heart attack and is delaying going to the hospital due to concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic
Mr. Ahmed Khellil Abbassi, Executive Director of Competition and Football Development at the Qatar Stars League (QSL), spoke about the general plan for players to return to training after the end of their annual vacation in preparation for the resumption of 2019-20 QNB Stars League.
The MoPH today announces the registration of 1,901 new confirmed cases of COVID-19, with 1,506 people having recovered from the virus in the last 24 hours, bringing the total number of recovered people in Qatar to 37,542. The Ministry also announces two deaths due to the virus.
The reason for the large increase in the number of recoveries is due to the application of the latest international recommendations regarding criteria for recovering from COVID-19 infection, which was approved by the MoPH.
Over the last 24 hours, the Ministry also recorded 15 new patients being admitted to intensive care due to the virus, bringing the total number of cases currently in intensive care to 237.
The Ministry states 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 Ministry of Public Health that contributed to early detection of cases.
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. The new confirmed cases of infection have been introduced to complete isolation in the various medical facilities in the country, where they receive the necessary healthcare according to the health status of each case.
The MoPH reveals that infections increased due to family gatherings and visits between friends and extended families, and people ignoring the preventive measures recommended by the concerned authorities; the most important of which is staying at home and maintaining social distance.
The Ministry states that the two new deaths recorded today are for people aged 48 and 53, who had received the necessary medical care in intensive care. The MoPH offers sincere condolences and great sympathy to the families of the deceased.
Qatar's Cabinet announced Wednesday afternoon the following amendments to its previous decisions regarding COVID-19 precautionary measures. These decisions are applicable starting Thursday, June 4, 2020.
H.E. the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Al-Thani chaired the Cabinets regular meeting held through video conference.
In response to the recent decision to make the installation of the app mandatory, several hypermarkets and supermarkets in Qatar now require customers to show the EHTERAZ app upon entry and only those with "GREEN" code, indicating a healthy status, will be allowed inside.
Al Meera Consumer Goods and Monoprix Qatar announced on Tuesday, June 2, on their social media accounts this decision to ensure the safety of everyone. Carrefour later announced on their social media accounts on Wednesday, June 3. Lulu Hypermarket also announced the decision on its website while SPAR posted on their Instagram story.
Take note that the QR Health Code within EHTERAZ App now shows a timestamp to ensure that the health status is up-to-date.
As an alternative if you're not able to download the EHTERAZ app on your smartphone or your status is not green, you can still shop for your grocery needs at these grocery delivery services in Qatar. You can order online and have it delivered straight to your doorstep.
Qatar Scientific Club announced the production of 100 face shields to reduce the risk of transmission of coronavirus (COVID-19) in the club's digital manufacturing laboratories in coordination with Aspire Academy.
The club said that this face shield is lightweight and reusable after sterilization, as it is usually intended for medical and security crews and can be used in cases of epidemics and pandemics because it is easy to use and constitutes an additional protection element for the users.
The MoPH announced the registration of 1,826 new confirmed cases of coronavirus (COVID-19) bringing the total number of positive cases in Qatar to 60,259 and stated that 2,599 more people recovered from the virus, bringing the total number of people that recovered in Qatar to 36,036. Unfortunately, three new deaths were reported bring the total number of coronavirus-related deaths in Qatar to 43.
The Ministry also recorded 20 new patients being admitted to intensive care due to the virus, bringing the total number of cases in intensive care to 239.
The Ministry stated that the new deaths recorded were for people aged 24, 59 and 62 years of age who were receiving the necessary medical care in intensive care. The MoPH offered sincere condolences and great sympathy to the families of the deceased.
The examinations of the end of the second semester of the general and specialised Secondary School Certificate for the academic year 2019/2020 started today, and will continue for a period of two weeks, to end on June 13.
His Excellency (H.E.) Minister of Education and Higher Education Dr. Mohammed bin Abdul Wahed Al Hammadi, affirmed that the Ministry had taken, within the measures taken by the State, to curb the outbreak of the new corona epidemic, all precautionary and preventive measures that will ensure the health and safety of male and female students, and all school personnel during the examinations .
His Excellency noted in this regard that the Ministry of Education and Higher Education had set standards and requirements for safety in terms of the safe distance between students, providing a safe and healthy environment to perform the examinations, taking into account the current conditions and reducing exams time and the number of questions included in each examination.
Chief of Physiotherapy at HMC, Noora Al Mudahka said the COVID-19 pandemic has changed every aspect of how healthcare is delivered, and she says her team has worked hard to ensure patients are continuing to have access to physiotherapy services.
"We immediately started planning to adapt our treatment programs so that physical therapy services were not interrupted and that the progress of our patients was not compromised.
At any given time, we have hundreds of patients under our care and as a team, we were determined to ensure these patients continued to have access to the physical therapy interventions they required while also ensuring their potential exposure to the COVID-19 virus was reduced," she said.
Around 80 percent of HMCs regular outpatient services are now being provided through telemedicine, with clinical teams across all specialties providing care during more than 27,000 telephone consultations each week.
The British Council Qatar has launched new online English courses for both adults and children in response to COVID-19. The courses - Primary Plus, Secondary Plus and English Online – Adults – have been designed to bring British Council classes into homes through a tailormade online learning platform.
The platform offers live classroom lessons with dedicated British Council teachers. Students will also be provided with support between classes, their own personalised dashboard and a wide range of extra online resources.
The MoPH announced the registration of 1,523 new confirmed cases of COVID-19, with 3,147 people having recovered from the virus, bringing the total number of recovered people in Qatar to 33,437. The Ministry also announced two deaths due to the virus.
The reason for the large increase in the number of recoveries was due to the application of the latest international recommendations regarding criteria for recovering from COVID-19 infection, which was approved by the MoPH. The Ministry also recorded 22 new patients being admitted to intensive care due to the virus, bringing the total number of cases in intensive care to 240.
The Ministry stated that the two new deaths recorded belonged to people aged 50 and 58, who had received the necessary medical care in intensive care. The MoPH offered sincere condolences and great sympathy to the families of the deceased.
Since being designated a COVID-19 facility for the treatment of children at the start of April, Hamad Medical Corporation’s (HMC) Al Sadd Pediatric Emergency Center (PEC) has provided high-quality care for children with the virus.
“What we have seen, both in Qatar and around the world, is that people of all ages can contract COVID-19, but the evidence to date shows that very few children experience severe symptoms if they become infected. While this is encouraging, it does not mean that children are immune to the virus and we are seeing a number of children being admitted to Al Sadd PEC a result of moderate to severe COVID-19 symptoms,” said Dr. Mohammed Al Amri, Acting Chairman of Pediatrics and Director of Pediatric Emergency Centres.
The designation of Al Sadd PEC as a COVID-19 facility is part of the healthcare sector’s comprehensive plan to ensure that COVID-19 pediatric patients are given the very best medical care. Al Sadd PEC is a state-of-the-art medical facility and is enabling HMC to provide high-quality care for young patients with COVID-19 in one single facility.
The video has gone live on celebrity platforms with already millions of views within the first 24 hours. The video which has also gone viral on social media includes Bollywood superstar Akshay Kumar, renowned Producer/Director Karan Johar, Turkish German actress Meryem Uzerli, Captain of the Indian cricket team-Virat Kohli, Captain of the Indian Football Team- Sunil Chhetri, Formula 1 Racing World Champion-Damon Hill, Singer/Music Director duo Vishal & Shekhar, singer-Hariharan and globally acclaimed fashion designer Manish Malhotra.
This outstanding global video as well as specific videos by Karan Johar, Akshay Kumar and Manish Malhotra for Qatar, conceived and produced by FAB, comes as part of the Mental Health Awareness Month and Year of the Nurse with the main goal to uplift the morale of those working tirelessly on the frontlines of the fight against the pandemic, coming directly as acknowledgment from the worlds most celebrated icons.
To watch the global video, please visit:
https://www.instagram.com/p/CAmxUAbA7oi/?igshid=pdqyugvohrup
To watch the video’s for Qatar, please visit:
As a pioneer in casual footwear, our goal as a brand has always been to keep people comfortable in their own shoes and now, in the face of adversity, there are certain individuals who need that comfort now more than ever. They are undoubtedly the healthcare workers, who relentlessly serve humanity through the toughest of times. Healthcare workers have our deepest respect, and we are humbled to be able to show them some love during this unprecedented time.
Crocs is happy to gift a free pair of shoes to the healthcare workers of Hamad Hospital, Qatar on the frontlines of ongoing situation.
The MoPH today announced the registration of 1,648 new confirmed cases of COVID-19, with 4,451 people having recovered from the virus, bringing the total number of recovered people in Qatar to 30,290. The Ministry also announced two deaths due to the virus.
The reason for the large increase in the number of recoveries was due to the application of the latest international recommendations regarding criteria for recovering from COVID-19 infection, which was approved by the MoPH.
Over the last 24 hours, the Ministry also recorded 27 new patients being admitted to intensive care due to the virus, bringing the total number of cases in intensive care to 232.
The Ministry stated that the two new deaths recorded were for a 53 and 77 year old, who had both received the necessary medical care in intensive care. The MoPH offered sincere condolences and great sympathy to the families of the deceased.
Qatar Airways is proud and honoured to announce a two-year partnership with UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency to deliver on its purpose of providing humanitarian relief and assistance to the displaced globally. The partnership, which is a first between both organisations, will involve a strategic collaboration whereby Qatar Airways will support with the delivery of crucial aid supplies to those most in need during these unprecedented times.
The agreement, which was signed in Doha on 19 May 2020 is an important synergy between Qatar Airways and UNHCR and a clear response to the current challenges that are presented by COVID-19. The partnership, which will be effective through to May 2022 will see UNHCR work closely with Qatar Airways to utilise the airline’s hub-and spoke network out of Hamad International Airport in Doha. By having access to a fleet of more than 200 aircraft, UNHCR will be able to deliver lifesaving support including water, medical care and hygiene materials to keep refugees, internally displaced people and host community members safe around the world.
Officials from HMC are providing advice to secondary students who will write their final secondary exams this Monday about overcoming extreme stress and anxiety associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.
Officials from HMC note that all government organisations have taken the necessary precautionary measures to ensure the safety of students, stating that all efforts have been taken to ensure exams are written in a safe environment and that stringent health and safety measures have been put in place.
As education systems around the world continue to adjust to online learning in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak, Qatar Foundation's Education Development Institute has launched a platform that enables school teachers from across the country to work together in the digital sphere to improve student outcomes.
Through the online space, educators are invited to share examples of effective educational practices and useful resources to help other users acquire the knowledge and skills to plan and deliver quality online learning experiences. Teachers are then able to find information quickly, get new ideas, and draw inspiration from others.
The MoPH announced the registration of 2,355 new confirmed cases of coronavirus (COVID-19) bringing the total number of positive cases in Qatar to 55,262 and stated that 5,235 more people had recovered from the virus, bringing the total number of people that had recovered in Qatar to 25,839. The total number of coronavirus-related deaths in Qatar were 36 .
The reason for the large increase in the number of recoveries was due to the application of the latest international recommendations regarding criteria for recovering from COVID-19 infection, which was approved by the MoPH
The Ministry also recorded 18 new patients being admitted to intensive care due to the virus, bringing the total number of cases that currently in intensive care to 217.
The MOCI issued Friday a circular setting work hours for commercial and services activities, as well as the activities excluded from this circular, as part of the preventive and precautionary measures taken by the state to reduce the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) and to complement previous decisions and procedures.
HMC underscored the importance of early testing for people with symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19). Dr. Ahmed Al Mohammed, Chairman of HMC's Department of Internal Medicine and Acting Chairman of HMC's Intensive Care Units (ICU) stressed the importance of individuals with COVID-19 symptoms getting tested. He says anyone who develops symptoms should immediately contact the Ministry of Public Health's dedicated hotline on 16000 or present at a COVID-19 testing centre. He says the earlier the virus is detected, the easier it will be to manage and recover from it.
The Primary Health Care Centre (PHCC), in collaboration with MoPH and HMC, will be operating drive through swabbing hubs at three health centres as part of the country’s efforts to manage the COVID-19 outbreak.
The MoPH announced the registration of 1993 new confirmed cases of coronavirus (COVID-19), with 5205 people having recovered from the disease in the last 24 hours, bringing the total number of recovered people in Qatar to 20,604 cases. The Ministry also announced three new deaths from the virus.
The reason for the large increase in the number of recoveries is due to the application of the latest international recommendations regarding criteria for recovering from the coronavirus (COVID-19) infection, which was approved by the MoPH. The Ministry also recorded 20 new patients being admitted to intensive care due to the virus, bringing the total number of cases in intensive care to 216.
The Ministry stated that the three new deaths recorded belonged to people aged 84, 48 and 65 years, who were suffering from chronic diseases and received treatment in intensive care. The MoPH extended its sincere condolences and great sympathy to the families of the deceased.
The Ministry of Administrative Development, Labour and Social Affairs (ADLSA) stressed the need to continue adhering to the precautionary measures to prevent coronavirus (COVID-19) when the government sector returns to work on Sunday.
The MADLSA said that all workers in the government sector will return to work after the blessed Eid Al Fitr holiday on Sunday from 7 am until 1 pm with the commitment to 20% of employees in workplaces and 80%of employees working remotely.
HMC revealed that an 88-year old Qatari man who has recovered from coronavirus (COVID-19) was discharged from Hazm Mebaireek General Hospital (HMGH).
The man is believed to be the oldest person in the country who has recovered from coronavirus (COVID-19). He spent 11 days at HMGH, where he had been admitted in mid-May with coronavirus (COVID-19) and a fractured femur (thighbone). His recovery is not only a tangible example of the high-quality care provided by HMC, but it is also a cautionary tale of how dangerous this virus can be, especially to the most vulnerable members of our community. The man has been transferred to Rumailah Hospital where he will continue to receive treatment, including physiotherapy and rehabilitation.
The Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs (Awqaf) has reaffirmed on its Twitter page that prayers in mosques within Qatar will remain suspended until further notice in continuation of the official coronavirus (COVID-19) precautionary measures. Awqaf was responding to news circulating on social media which shows pictures of worshippers praying while continuing to follow social distancing and other coronavirus (COVID-19) preventive measures
Awqaf clarifies that the pictures/infographics (see images below) are a proactive educational material that have been prepared to inform the community how prayers will be conducted in mosques when they do reopen in accordance with the requirements determined by the relevant authorities in Qatar.
The MoPH has just announced the registration of 1,967 new confirmed cases of coronavirus (COVID-19) bringing the total number of positive cases in Qatar to date to 50,914 and has stated that 2,116 more people have recovered from the virus, bringing the total number of people that have recovered in Qatar to 15,399. Three new deaths have been recorded bringing the total number of coronavirus-related deaths to 33 in Qatar.
Over the last 24 hours, 23 people were admitted to intensive care due to the virus, bringing the total number of cases in intensive care to 214.
The Ministry stated that the three new deaths recorded today belong to people aged 81, 50 and 25 years, who were suffering from chronic diseases and received treatment in intensive care. The MoPH extends its sincere condolences and great sympathy to the families of the deceased.
HMC announced that the majority of patients with COVID-19 in Qatar will now be discharged from healthcare facilities 14 days after their first positive swab. This new discharge policy will apply to patients who display no symptoms.
HMC said that the new protocol will see patients follow the instructions provided by medical professionals, including downloading and activating the Ehteraz mobile application. They should also remain in home quarantine not leaving home for any reason for an additional week. Those who violate these directions risk the penalties stated in the law on the prevention of infectious diseases.
HMC noted that many patients have remained in hospital or isolation facilities for longer than 14 days as their discharge required them to have two negative PCR test results before leaving the facility. The new protocol will benefit patients by enabling them to return home and back to normal life as quickly as possible.
When do you think this coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak in Qatar will end? What are you doing to flatten the curve? Are you following all the SOPs? Do let us know your thoughts in our Comments section. Like and share the article - it keeps us going!
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