AS QATAR is passing through coronavirus outbreak’s peak phase the need to follow precautionary measures set by the State has increased manifold putting responsibility on each and every individual of the society to help break the chain of transmission of viral infection.
The State of Qatar has taken a number of crucial steps to arrest the spread of coronavirus disease in the country and at the same time established new quarantine centres and field hospitals to treat the COVID-19 patients with world-class facilities and without any discrimination between a citizen and a resident.
The recent spike in the number of COVID-19 infections in the country, according the healthcare authorities, is due to non-adherence to precautionary measures and guidelines issued by the Ministry of Public Health particularly those related to observing social distancing.
The Ministry of Public Health has affirmed at numerous occasions that the high number of infections among citizens and residents is due to the lack of compliance by some with precautionary measures, the most important of which is physical distancing and reducing the need to leave home except in exceptional circumstances.
The Ministry of Public Health has also stated that the State of Qatar has now entered the peak phase of the virus outbreak, which is seeing a rise in the number of infections recorded daily. It is therefore more important than ever to strictly follow recommended prevention and social distancing measures.
The Ministry has also stressed the importance for the elderly or those suffering from chronic diseases and their family members to follow strict measures to reduce the chances of infection with the virus and to refrain from social visits during the rest of Ramadan as well as on the occasion of Eid Al Fitr.
To contain the spread of infection, the Cabinet in its meeting on Wednesday made wearing face masks compulsory for all citizens and residents upon leaving house for any reason. The decision was taken to compel all citizens and residents upon leaving house for any reason to wear masks (from tomorrow), except in the case when a person is alone while driving a vehicle, and the Ministry of Interior takes the necessary measures in this regard.
Dr. Abdullatif Al Khal, Co-Chair of the National Pandemic Preparedness Committee to combat COVID-19 and Head of Infectious Diseases at Hamad Medical Corporation, has also said that the number of infections among Qataris and residents have witnessed a noticeable increase during the past week as a result of non-compliance with the rules of social distance and with the preventive measures in general.
