During the press conference, held by Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) on April 30, 2020, Dr. Abdullatif Al Khal, Chair of the National Strategic Group on COVID-19 and Head of the Infectious Diseases Division at Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC), said the number of daily cases continued to increase past few days and this is expected to continue for a while.

Most countries around the world are seeing a steeper rise in daily cases before they see a leveling off. However, the percentage of critically ill or deceased is very low in Qatar.

Majority of the people infected with COVID-19 in Qatar experience only mild, flu-like symptoms and make a full recovery. This week a significant milestone was reached with 1,000 patients having fully recovered. A number which will continue to increase, he added.

Preventive measures such as social distancing have not stopped the spread of the virus, however, they certainly helped in reducing the spread and helped the healthcare system to provide high-quality treatment to patients who require intense medical treatment.

The healthcare sector has rapidly activated significant capacity to house COVID-19 patients in suitable facilities and has the capacity for many more if needed.

Watch the @MOPHQatar press conference held today for updates on positive cases of Coronavirus as well as the preventative measures taken by the State of #Qatar:https://t.co/3OExP5EXFL pic.twitter.com/PrX54RLJac

— مكتب الاتصال الحكومي (@GCOQatar) April 30, 2020

“Life will return to normal as soon as it is safe to do so but this will be a gradual return. Only when we are certain that we are past the peak of the virus in Qatar, we can begin to consider removing the certain restrictions that are currently in place”, Al Khal mentioned.  

There are two kinds of the COVID-19 test currently being conducted in Qatar, said Dr. Einas Al Kuwari, Chair of the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology at Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC). These are: the PCR Molecular test, and the Serological test.

PCR molecular test is the gold standard test using a swab of the back of the mouth and the top of the nose to determine if the person is infected with COVID-19.

The serological test uses a finger prick. This test delivers rapid results and confirms if someone has been exposed to COVID-19 previously. However, this test does not determine if the individual is COVID-19 positive.

There are three elements of testing strategy overall:

1. Healthcare-related testing:

Provided for people who come to a healthcare setting and display COVID-19 symptoms.

2. Public health testing:

Contact tracing - this is where anyone who has had contact with someone who is COVID-19 positive is tested.

Random sampling - where a sample population area is chosen and people randomly tested. This provides a better understanding of how widespread the virus is.

3. People returning from abroad:

This has helped successfully identify people coming into the country who are COVID-19 positive. HMC's laboratory has significantly increased the number of tests it is able to do each day as well as reducing the time it takes to process test results.

The MoPH calls on all members of society to stay at home and not go out except in cases of necessity and to implement preventive measures and maintain physical distancing, including in the workplace and public places.

The Ministry reminds people to use a face mask as recommended and avoid social visits to reduce their risk of contracting the virus.

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. 

---

Make sure to check out our social media to keep track of the latest content.

Instagram - @qatarliving

Twitter - @qatarliving

Facebook - Qatar Living