QATAR'S efforts to lift COVID-19 restrictions in a phased manner is bearing fruit. Based on Qatar’s public health indicators and the infection rate in the community, the Supreme Committee for Crisis Management decided to split Phase 4 of the easing of curbs in two phases. The first phase will commence on September 1 and the situation will be assessed on an ongoing basis, including the re-imposing and/or lifting of some restrictions based on developments mid-September. The second phase will commence at the beginning of the third week of September. Measures taken to tackle the pandemic in Qatar have succeeded in flattening the curve and limiting the spread of the virus with the number of new daily cases and hospital admissions continuing to decline each week. Qatar has one of the lowest COVID-19 death rates in the world. This is a result of very high quality of care provided thorough the public healthcare sector for COVID-19 patients, Qatar’s proactive and extensive testing of suspected cases early, expanding hospital capacity, especially intensive care, to ensure that all patients receive the medical care they need, and protecting the elderly and those with chronic diseases. The Cabinet, in its meeting on Wednesday, put out a number of important and thoroughly-studied decisions within the framework of a gradual plan to lift the imposed restrictions due to the coronavirus. The key decisions included cancelling the suspension of medical services in private health care facilities as well as cancelling the suspension of the system of temporary home services provided by cleaning and hospitality companies. The Supreme Committee for Crisis Management said the first phase of Phase 4 will include the reopening of all mosques in the country to perform daily and Friday prayers, with ablution facilities remaining closed, as well as limiting the capacity in workplaces to a maximum of 80 percent of employees in both public and private sectors, in addition to significant other decisions. The Committee thanked both citizens and residents for their commitment to adhering to the precautionary measures to combat COVID-19, which has contributed to limiting the spread of the virus. The Ministry of Public Health said the lifting of restrictions and declining cases does not mean that the COVID-19 pandemic is over.The Ministry said it is now more important for everyone to play their role in controlling the virus by adhering to physical distancing, avoiding close contact with others, and staying away from crowded places in addition to wearing a face mask and washing hands regularly.
