IT’S BEEN 100 days since the first case of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) emerged in the State of Qatar. Ever since, a total of 70,158 confirmed cases of the infection and 57 deaths have been recorded in the country.
However, timely and effective preventive measures adopted by the state and quality healthcare for those infected has resulted in the country having a very high recovery rate and one of the lowest mortality rate in the world. Majority of the total COVID-19 patients — 45,935 — have already fully recovered.
The past few weeks witnessed a large number of new cases as well as several deaths from COVID-19 as the country passed through the peak phase of the outbreak. However, as the health officials have indicated, the country has succeeded in flattening the curve, which means the spread of virus has been slowed down. Concerted efforts by the government have also meant that the impact of the virus has been reduced by 75 percent.
The approach by the government to focus on tracing, testing and isolating cases of infection has started showing gains as the number of daily new cases seems to have levelled off and come down in recent days.
Qatar has tested 259,646 people for COVID-19 so far, which is one of the highest testing rates in the world per one million people. Treatment using plasma donated by recovered patients has also shown positive results.
Half of the more than 170 patients who have received plasma so far in the country improved and eventually recovered. A plasma donation center has been set up at Hamad Medical Corporation’s Communicable Disease Center.
Initially, the plasma has been given to very sick patients but after encouraging results the officials say it can now be given to patients with moderate COVID-19 infection before they reach the stage where they require intensive care.
Qatar’s virus-tracing mobile phone app, Ehteraz, has also been very effective in the fight against COVID-19. The app, which is mandatory for all outside homes, will help authorities in gradual lifting of the restrictions as it has added an extra layer of protection for the community.
Citizens, residents as well as businesses have adopted the app as part of collective efforts to curb the pandemic. Many stores, banks and telecom companies are encouraging their customers to use the app.
The app, which could earlier be activated using only a Qatari ID number, now also allows activation using a visa number if the user does not have an ID number.
