The health authorities have confirmed that COVID-19 has spread into the community but it is still limited. They have also requested the public to limit social gatherings and ensure good hygiene as preventive measures.
Three new COVID-19 cases were reported yesterday among the expatriates who do not have recent travel history and were working at the central market and in another hypermarket. Both the premises have been temporarily closed as a precaution and all close contacts of affected persons have been quarantined for 14 days, according to the officials.
“We have started seeing COVID-19 cases in the community but still it is limited. This shows the efficiency of screening suspected cases and quarantining of those in contact with COVID-19 patients. So far, we have tested 3,500 people and found only 18 positive cases,” said Dr. Abdullatif Al Khal, Co-Chair of the National Pandemic Preparedness Committee and Head of Infectious Diseases at Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC), while addressing a press conference held at the Ministry of Public Health.
“Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) is working very efficiently to limit the spread of the virus. We give some medicines to those in contact even if they are tested negative. We hospitalise about 15 to 20 percent during the time we test for COVID- 2019. We do this to protect them and keep the community safe,” he added.
He assured that there is no death reported among COVID-2019 patients further saying that all 18 patients are in stable condition and receiving treatment at the Communicable Disease Centre. “There is no truth in rumours of the death of a COVID-19 positive patient in Qatar,” said Dr. Al Khal.
Three expatriates were tested positive for COVID-2019 on Sunday, and yesterday three more cases that had contacts with the previous three cases were tested positive.
“These cases where found among people working at the central market and in another hypermarket. We have temporarily closed and sterilised both the places and examined everyone who had contact with the patients,” said Dr. Hamad Eid Al Rumaihi, Director, Department of Health Protection and Prevention of Transitional Diseases at MoPH.
“More than 300 people were screened and we found these three more cases,” he added.
The officials urged the public to avoid unwanted travelling and adhere personal hygienic preventive measures including frequent hand washing; avoiding touching eyes, nose and mouth; using sanitiser; avoiding visibly sick people; avoiding crowds if possible and if anyone is sick especially with any respiratory illness they should stay at home to avoid spreading the disease to others. P3
