Under Qatar's precautionary measures to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) among the population, the country's Government Communications Office (GCO) has announced that classes at all schools, universities and educational institutes will be suspended from Tuesday, March 10 until further notice.

بيان مكتب الاتصال الحكومي حول تعليق الدراسة في المدارس والجامعات الحكومية والخاصة لجميع الطلاب حتى إشعارٍ آخر كإجراء احترازي للحد من انتشار فيروس كورونا (كوفيد-19).https://t.co/DfH2tikn9o

— مكتب الاتصال الحكومي (@GCOQatar) March 9, 2020

The Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MoEHE) also announced the decision on its social media pages a while ago:

وفقا للإجراءات الوقائية والاحترازية الموصى بها من قبل الجهات الصحية المختصة ، وفي إطار الجهود الحثيثة للسيطرة على فيروس كورونا المستجد ومنع انتشاره والحرص على حماية صحة الطلبةوالهيئة التعليمية فقد تم تعليق الدراسة لجميع الطلاب اعتباراً من تاريخ غدٍ الثلاثاء وحتى إشعار آخر .

— وزارة التعليم (@Qatar_Edu) March 9, 2020

Qatar is taking all the necessary measures to safeguard the health of its people ever since the coronavirus emerged. 

The country currently has 18 confirmed cases of the virus, which include Qataris as well as expatriates. 

All patients are said to be in stable condition and have been subjected to strict quarantine and infection control procedures at Hamad Medical Corporation's Communicable Diseases Center.

As health officials continue to go above and beyond in managing the situation, the public has been advised to adopt some important measures to prevent themselves from the dreaded infection. 

The Ministry has also set up a dedicated, round-the-clock call center to answer any queries the public may have about the COVID-19. The hotline number is 16000 and is toll-free.

Here's everything you need to know about the virus, including ways to protect yourself.