The infection rate is stabilizing in Qatar and there is no significant daily increase in cases and the weekly average has reached the stability stage as well and the cases that require hospitalization have also decreased, Dr Abdullatif Al Khal, Co-Chair of the National Pandemic Preparedness Committee and Head of Infectious Diseases at Hamad Medical Corporation, said in an interview on Qatar Television.
Some Key point from the interview:
- We are 3 months into our COVID-19 outbreak in Qatar and we have succeeded in flattening the curve and reducing the impact of the virus by 75% thanks to the preventive efforts and measures, and the awareness and cooperation of the community.
- The latest data related to new cases and hospital admissions appear stable, and we will know for sure during the next week or two whether this trend will continue.
- The past weeks medical information indicates that after 10 days of infection with Coronavirus, it is ‘dead’ in respiratory secretions and therefore no longer contagious.
- The new protocol of the Ministry of Public Health resulted in hundreds of infected people being released from quarantine and committing to house quarantine for a period of 7 days, as a backup, although not contagious.
- New protocol standards that allow the patient to be discharged after 14 days due to evidence that has shown that people with mild symptoms do not turn infectious 10 to 14 days after infection because the virus is dead
- We are heading towards a new normal state where we have to live with the Coronavirus and it is important for people to continue to take precautions
- We are seeing an increase in the number of deaths but Qatar continues to have one of the lowest COVID-19 death rates in the world thanks to the measures put in place: effective preventive measures to protect the elderly and those with chronic conditions, early detection, early administration of treatment, excellent care, sufficient acute and ICU beds and redirecting of resources.
- The presence of a sufficient number of beds and the medical and nursing staff for intensive care contributed greatly to the decrease in the number of deaths, in addition to effective medicines and modern treatment methods that have been applied.
- The majority of the infected are youth with immune strength, which helped speed recovery, except in some cases.
- Even after reducing precautionary measures, citizens and residents should remain social distancing and hand-washing.
- A small percentage of citizens and residents did not commit to social distancing during Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr, so the rate of infection with the virus increased among them, and some had to be admitted in intensive care.
-The reproductive rate of the Coronavirus means that each person transmits it to 3 people. And each of them will transfer it to 3 others. We can limit the reproduction by quarantining the infected and applying prevention and spacing, so that we reduce the reproductive rate to less than 1 and then the virus recedes.
-The epidemiology of the virus varies from country to country and from region to region according to the demographics.
- Resuming business and other activities should be done gradually and in a prudent manner, with strict observation of social distancing, wearing masks and maintaining hand hygiene to avoid the resurgence of the virus
- Following lifting of the restrictions it is important for people not to leave their houses unless it is absolutely necessary. This is particularly true for those who are 60 years and older and those with chronic conditions.
-Ehteraz app will help with the gradual lifting of the restriction as it adds another layer of protection for the community as a whole. It is a good example how technology is proving to be valuable in combating the virus and facilitating return towards normal life.
