Since the recent decision of Qatar’s Cabinet to reimpose health restrictions to curb the COVID-19 spread took effect from February 4, the Ministry of Interior (MoI) has stepped up its efforts and intensified inspections to implement the cabinet’s decision. It has taken action against several individuals violating COVID-19 precautionary measures in the country.
Yesterday the Ministry’s officials booked 642 individuals and referred them to the Public Prosecution for violating the rules and health instructions.
These people were booked for not wearing masks in public places while 21 of them were found violating the limit allowed in a vehicle, which is specified as four persons including the driver, except for members of the same family. The Cabinet decision stipulates that all citizens and residents should continue wearing masks, and to activate EHTERAZ application on their smart phones continuously, when leaving their houses for any reason and any time.
For similar reasons, over 10,000 persons have been referred to public persecution in the past three months. This is surprising and questionable matter at the same time! No doubt this is happening due to recklessness and lack of respect to the rules and instructions approved by health authority for protecting the society and keeping situation under control.
For the few people this may be because of lack of awareness as many would have thought that the pandemic had ended and ignored preventive measures. The Supreme Committee for Crisis Management and MoPH have disclosed that the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases and people hospitalised have rapidly increased within the past few days reporting over 400 daily.
The fact is the pandemic has not ended globally, and all precautionary measures must be taken. But it becomes difficult to understand when it comes to individuals violating their pledges after signing to adhere to rules of home quarantine which could only happen because of undermining the seriousness of the virus to public safety.
The designated authorities have called on the public to adhere to the precautionary measures in place to ensure their safety and the safety of others which is responsibility of each person in the country to keep the community protected.
This requires nothing more than applying simple, preventive measures to protect against infection, which includes washing hands, keeping a distance of at least two metres, avoiding physical contact, using sleeve or tissue when sneezing and wearing a face mask in public.
Adherence to the health preventive measures is the first step towards curbing the spread of the coronavirus and going back to normal life.e
