Like the last two years since the start of COVID-19 pandemic, different government entities particularly the Ministry of Public Health, this time also, are taking a number of swift actions to curb the spread of Omicron infection (third wave) at the one hand and serving the infected people on the other.
Under Cabinet’s decision, new precautionary measures to combat third wave of COVID-19 are also set to come into effect from today.
The State Cabinet in its meeting held on January 5 had taken decisions to reimpose some restrictions on commercial markets like malls, popular souqs, restaurants etc to curb the spread of viral infection. These restrictions generally address the precaution of maintaining social distancing at different public places and public transit system.
Hamad Medical Corporation has announced that from today, only new outpatient consultations will be seen by their physician face-to-face. Patients with follow-up appointments will have their appointments conducted by telephone consultation with the physician.
The Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) is also providing booster shots to elderly people and school teachers/staff on priority basis without appointments. MoPH is also set to open the Qatar Vaccination Center – for Business and Industry Sector in Bu Garn tomorrow (Sunday - January 9) to administer COVID-19 vaccines to key business and industry workers.
To facilitate growing number of suspected patients, MoPH also opened on Thursday a new drive-through COVID-19 testing centre in Lusail. The PCR testing at drive-through centre in Lusail is free for certain population groups. The test is free for people 50 years and above with signs and symptoms of COVID-19 and who are close contacts with a confirmed cases and preoperative patients.
The Ministry of Public Health has also endorsed the use of COVID-19 Rapid Antigen Self-Test Kits for self-testing at home. MoPH explained that while the results of the Rapid Antigen Self-Test Kits may not be used for official purposes such as pre-travel testing, changing health status on Ehteraz or QUOT applications, or official health certificates, they are a valuable tool for people to check their COVID-19 status at the convenience of their homes.
Amending its COVID-19 testing policy, MoPH has also approved the use of rapid antigen test for COVID-19 in approved public and private centres for persons under 50 years of age and who show symptoms of COVID-19; for people under the age of 50 who have been in contact with people who have tested COVID-19 positive; and for travellers returning to Qatar who need to conduct COVID-19 tests after returning from travel.
