Medical Director at Hamad General Hospital Dr. Yousef Al Maslamani explained that the community plays a vital role in containing the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dr. Al Maslamani stated that the number of COVID-19 cases in Qatar has declined substantially thanks to the efforts of the government and the compliance of the general public.

Consequently, cases are expected to go down even further if people strictly adhere to the measures and instructions in place.

This would enable the country to smoothly transition to the second phase of the gradual lifting of COVID-19 restrictions.

د. يوسف المسلماني، المدير الطبي لمستشفى حمد العام : نعم أعداد حالات الإصابة تتناقص بسبب التزام المجتمع بالإجراءات الوقائية وارتفاع نسبة التطعيم وستقل بشكل أكثر مستقبلا وهذا سيجعلنا ندخل في المرحلة القادمة من عملية رفع القيود

برنامج #المسافة_الاجتماعية #تلفزيون_قطر pic.twitter.com/DeOJ6vyUiA

— تلفزيون قطر (@QatarTelevision) June 7, 2021

Dr. Al Maslamani spoke to Qatar TV yesterday and said that the reaction of any pandemic comes from two sides: the government and the general public.

He explained that the government's role in such a pandemic is to detect the disease and provide adequate treatment based on the case such as admitting patients in hospitals, ICUs and giving medicines.

This would also include the provision of isolation services if needed. However, the government’s efforts cannot curb the pandemic without the cooperation of the public, he said.

“People will have to play a crucial role in curbing the spread of coronavirus infection. The government can help in making laws related to preventive measures and issue instructions based on scientific information. The community's role is to follow the measures. If they adhere to the measures the cases of infection will decrease otherwise it will go up,” said Dr. Al Maslamani.

To a question about adding new features to the Ehteraz app, he said that the new features have been added based on the scientific studies which prove that the antibodies in COVID-19 recovered patients remain up to nine months.

“Responding to the international research on the issue, Qatar initiated in confirming the information and issued law which reflects in Ehteraz app,” said Dr. Al Maslamani.

He said that the Ministry of Public Health, in coordination with the Ministry of Interior, decided to update the Ehteraz app in a way to show the status of a recovered person.

“The move aims to ensure that recovered people can access to the facilities where vaccinated people are allowed to go availing the privileges granted in phase one gradual lifting of COVID-19 restrictions,” said Dr. Al Maslamani.

To a question about using the Ehteraz app in other GCC countries, he said that GCC health ministers have signed an agreement in this regard.

“We started working on the technical aspects of the agreement from day one regarding the Ehteraz app and those related to entry and exit among GCC countries,” said Dr. Al Maslamani.

Dr. Al Maslamani pointed out that the agreement will be implemented gradually as long as the system will be ready to do so.

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Cover Image Credit, Inline Image Credit & Source: The Peninsula