The government has brought back the mask mandate at all indoor public places after a spike in the number of daily new COVID-19 cases in the country. Like many countries, virus cases have been on the rise in Qatar for the past few weeks and health officials have said the cases can further rise in coming weeks among community members and travellers.
The daily average cases have hovered around 600 during the past week, and yesterday the country reported more than 850 cases in 24 hours, including 90 among travelers coming from abroad. There are currently 5,109 active cases, according to the Ministry of Public Health. There are 107 patients under acute hospital care while four remain in the ICU with COVID-19. Qatar has also reported 680 deaths from the coronavirus to date.
Reviewing the situation, the Cabinet recently amended its previous decision and made the use of face masks mandatory for all individuals aged six and above at all closed public places, including healthcare facilities, workplaces, public transport, mosques, gyms, malls, shops, and cinemas.
The Ministry of Public Health has urged the masses to follow the new mask mandate and other precautions to safeguard public health. Face masks, when worn properly by everyone, are an effective tool to prevent virus transmission.
Since the start of the pandemic, Qatar has fared better than many countries in safeguarding people’s health and suppressing the spread of COVID-19 infection. Due to its effective test, trace and quarantine policies and a state-of-the-art healthcare system, Qatar has one of the lowest COVID-19 mortality rate in the world. The country has also recorded one of the highest COVID-19 vaccine coverage with more than 7.2 million vaccine doses administered to date. This includes close to 1.8 million booster shots.
Along with face masks and other precautions, vaccination is crucial in protecting oneself from the infection. Health experts have urged the public to ensure their full vaccination, including the booster shot, if they are eligible. Currently, anyone aged 12 years and above who had their second dose more than six months ago is eligible for a booster dose.
A fourth vaccine dose is also available for individuals 50 years of age and older and those with chronic diseases that increase their risk of severe COVID-19 infection, regardless of their age. The fourth dose is offered to these vulnerable individuals after four months from their booster dose (third dose) or COVID-19 infection.
