With a decrease in the number of active COVID-19 cases on a daily basis and Qatar's success in flattening the curve, the country has now begun closing facilities it had set up specifically to deal with COVID-19 cases.

According to a press release by Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC), Her Excellency the Minister of Public Dr Hanan Mohamed Al Kuwari met with officials from the Ministry of Defense and HMC to make the closing of Lebsayyer Field Hospital as a dedicated COVID-19 hospital.

The 504-bed field hospital was established by the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) in collaboration with the Ministry of Defense (MOD) under Qatar's response to the COVID-19 epidemic.

Third Hospital Stepped Down from COVID-19 Hospital to an Isolation Facilityhttps://t.co/Rlz63s8l49 pic.twitter.com/lNM4n2qwZs

— وزارة الصحة العامة (@MOPHQatar) July 28, 2020

Located in Al Shahaniya- Dukhan Road, the Lebsayyer Hospital is divided into three buildings. Since its opening in April, about 170 nurses and 25 doctors have been working in the facility.

The closing of this hospital follows the recent closures of Ras Laffan and Mesaieed Hospitals as dedicated COVID-19 treatment facilities.

HE the Minister of Public Health highlighted the significance of Lebsayyer Field Hospital as one of Qatar’s dedicated COVID-19 hospitals.

“The rapid commissioning and opening of Lebsayyer Hospital is a wonderful example of the healthcare sector’s ability to adapt and innovate during this COVID-19 pandemic and the spirit of national collaboration across sectors," HE Dr Al Kuwari said.

"I know that as we, like the rest of the world, start to prepare for a second wave you and your teams will be ready when called to action,” she mentioned.

Chair of the System-Wide Incident Command Committee for COVID-19, Dr Saad Al Kaabi, said, “The success of our strategy to expand hospital capacity has relied on a system-wide approach, with each COVID-19 facility playing an important role in the delivery of care to patients. Lebsayyer Field Hospital’s role as a ‘step-down’ hospital for COVID-19 patients who have been discharged from other COVID-19 hospitals, but who still need low-level medical support, has been vital in relieving pressure on the other facilities.”

“With the number of active COVID-19 cases in Qatar declining, we are also now providing isolation services at Lebsayyer Field Hospital for COVID-19 patients,” he added.

Dr. Assad Ahmed Assad, Medical Services Commander/Brigadier at the Ministry of Defense, explained the role played by MOD in supporting the operation of Lebsayyer Hospital.

“The Ministry of Defense, under the direction of His Excellency Dr. Khalid bin Mohammed Al Attiyah, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defense Affairs, built Lebsayyer Hospital as a military medical facility and we worked hard with the team from HMC to quickly ensure the hospital was suitable for managing COVID-19 patients.

"The Ministry of Defense is proud to have supported the Ministry of Public Health and its healthcare partners in Qatar’s comprehensive measures to protect the population from COVID-19,” said Dr. Assad.

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

Cover Image Credit: Twitter/@MOPHQatar

Source: HMC