Qatar’s total number of patients who tested positive for the coronavirus disease exceeds 500 for the first time, as 7 new cases are added in the last 24 hours. According to the Ministry of Public Health (MOPH), two of these new cases are expats while 2 are Qatari citizens. Right now, these new COVID-19 positive cases are in quarantine and receiving the medical care they need.
In lieu of the dire health crisis we are in, rigid measures need to be taken. Learn more about food safety tips we can do to avoid COVID-19.
The good news is that four new patients have fully recovered from the disease, bringing the total number of recovered cases to 37. Among all countries in the world, Qatar ranks 40th in terms of total number of cases. China, at 81,093 cases, remains on top, although it reports no new cases and no new deaths and the situation seems to be stabilizing. Statistically speaking, Qatar has 174 cases per 1 million population.
Qatar COVID-19 Total Cases Reaches 501
The following is a tweet from the Ministry of Public Health showing an infographic about the latest COVID-19 numbers. The number of tested people continues to grow, as around five hundred residents just received their test results, bringing the total to 11,354. The infographic shows the total number of coronavirus disease cases, the total number of new cases in the last 24 hours, and the total number of patients who have recovered from COVID-19.
— وزارة الصحة العامة (@MOPHQatar) March 23, 2020
Each day, the government of Qatar deems it necessary to add more and more courses of action to prevent this disease from spreading. Most recently, Qatar has closed all mobile vehicles, food outlets, cafes and restaurants in several locations. These locations are all sports clubs, the Aspire Park, Lusail, Al Khor and Doha Corniche. The Qatar Chamber has also started the “Takatuf Initiative,” aimed at reducing the impact that COVID-19 has on the economic welfare of the country’s citizens. The Chamber has set up an electronic form in their website (QNA) for companies who are willing to be a part of the initiative, in which the Chamber becomes a sort of middle man between the companies and their chosen beneficiaries.
Moreover, in a recent tweet, the Government Communications Office (GCO) of Qatar has posted guidelines regarding how to further protect migrant workers from COVID-19. These steps include an appropriate information drive to let the workers know about what they need to do in light of the situation. The guidelines also require employers to initiate the cleaning and sterilization of work areas, distribution of protective equipment, and regular screening of employees.
Employers can support #Qatar’s efforts to reduce the spread of COVID-19 by providing a safe working environment and educating employees on the virus’ risks and ways to prevent its transmission.#YourSafetyIsMySafety pic.twitter.com/GH8EgudbL1
— مكتب الاتصال الحكومي (@GCOQatar) March 23, 2020
For more details, please visit the Ministry of Public Health Website. You can also reach the authorities through the hotline number 16000 for COVID-19 queries and concerns, and 44579999 for reporting violations of the strict measures needed to avert this health crisis.
We should all do our part, through social distancing and proper hygiene, to stop this health crisis. Equally important is mass testing, which helps the government identify the patients and isolate them; also a key step to put an end to COVID-19.