With the increase in daily COVID-19 cases reported in the country, the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) has initiated a campaign urging public to take responsibility and follow precautionary measures to control spread of the virus.
As individual responsibility to prevent the spread of COVID-19 is equally vital as government action, the social media campaign is urging the people to ‘Be Responsible.’ The campaign is being carried out by MoPH along with the Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) and the Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC). The campaign in different languages says, ‘Be Responsible. I’m committed to wearing a face mask. Protect yourself, protect your family, protect your country.’
This campaign coincides with the World Health Organisation (WHO)’s COVID-19 awareness message which calls for joint responsibility in the fight against the spread of the virus. It says, “COVID-19 spreads primarily from person to person. Fighting this disease is our joint responsibility.” “Protect yourself and others by making six simple precautions your new habits: Clean your hands often; cough or sneeze in your bent elbow — not your hands; avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth; limit social gatherings and time spent in crowded places; avoid close contact with someone who is sick; and clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces," the message says. With the reimposition of some of the COVID-19 restrictions in Qatar, officials have intensified efforts to take action against individuals violating precautionary measures in the country.
The Ministry of Interior (MoI) reported yesterday that 222 individuals were referred to the Public Prosecution for violations of COVID-19 precautionary measures. Among them, 216 were booked for not wearing masks in public while six were found violating the limit allowed in a vehicle, which is specified as four persons, including the driver, except for members of the same family. All the violators were referred to the Public Prosecution for further action, said the Ministry on Twitter. Till now 9,069 people have been referred to the Public Prosecution for not wearing masks and 293 people for not following the limit of people inside a vehicle.
“The competent authorities call on the public to adhere to the precautionary and preventive decisions in force to protect them and others from the spread of the coronavirus in society,” the statement added. MoI and health authorities have been continuously warning the public to follow precautionary measures like wearing masks, following social distancing, and restricting the number of people in vehicles to fight the COVID-19 pandemic from spreading.
