Qatar continues to reach out to countries in need of support to combat the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Upon the directives of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, so far Qatar has come to the aid of over 20 countries, including Italy, Iran, China, Lebanon, Algeria, Tunisia, Rwanda, Nepal, and Palestine.

Adding to its earlier efforts and reinforcing the need for global solidarity to fight the virus, Qatar sent urgent medical aid to three more countries yesterday. These include: Albania, Angola, and Congo.

The 25-tonne shipment that was sent by Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD) via Qatar Airways, included essential medical supplies such as masks and personal protective equipment for medical staff.

@qatar_fund is sending today several urgent medical aid shipments to the Democratic Republic of the #Congo, the Republic of #Albania and the Republic of #Angola to support their efforts in containing the outbreak of the #Corona #COVID19 pandemic pic.twitter.com/RSyExQZcX8

— Qatar Fund For Development صندوق قطر للتنمية (@qatar_fund) May 13, 2020

"This medical assistance reflects the great efforts made by Qatar to combat the spread of this pandemic globally, which comes as a matter of joint global responsibility," said QFFD director general Khalifa bin Jassim Al Kuwari.

Earlier this week, Qatar also joined hands with four other countries including Canada, Denmark, South Korea, and Sierra Leone, to launch a global forum, the Group of Friends of Solidarity for Global Health Security. The Forum aims to exchange views on how to effectively respond to COVID-19 through various forms of multilateral cooperation.

Meanwhile, health authorities in Qatar continue to implement the highest level of monitoring, detection, and management procedures to deal with the virus, and the public has been advised to follow certain measures to safeguard their health.

For any queries, or concerns related to COVID-19 in Qatar, the public can contact a 24/7 hotline set up by the Ministry. The hotline number is 16000 and is toll-free.

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

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Cover Image Credit: Twitter/qatar_fund