Tribune News Network
Doha
Aggressive contact tracing and rapid testing for coronavirus (COVID-19) have led to a rise in the number of new cases every day and that’s the reason why Qatar has a relatively higher infection rate than other countries in the region, a senior health official has said.
"Qatar investigates each transmission chain and examines all the people who have come in contact with infected persons. Many countries don’t do that,” Dr Abdullatif al Khal, Co-chair of the National Epidemic Preparation Committee, told @covid19qatar in a statement.
"When a person is tested positive for COVID-19, the Ministry of Public Health sends medical teams to his workplace and his place of residence and then identifies all the people who have come in contact with him. Between 2,000 and 3,000 contacts are being examined every day,” he said.
These measures, he said, have resulted in discovery of more cases.
"Most of them do not exhibit any symptoms and if they remain in contact with the public, it will cause the virus to spread further, he added.
Terming the high infection rate in Qatar a cause for concern, Dr Khal called on the public to stay at home as far as possible and practice social distancing.
He urged the public to wear masks and maintain a distance of at least 2 metres from others when in crowded places such as markets.
He said the Ministry of Public Health has stepped up efforts to track the transitional chains of the virus and expanded the search for people infected by conducting extensive and proactive investigations of large numbers of contacts with people who have recently been confirmed with the disease.
Dr Khal indicated that the results of the new American medicine – remdesivir -- to treat COVID-19 patients are very promising.
The results indicated that the drug helped reduce the recovery period from 15 to 11 days. It also helped reducing the number of deaths.
He pointed out that the world is waiting for more results and details about these experiences. When the drug is put in the market, it will be made available to patients in Qatar, he added.
Dr Khal said people suffering from severe infections from COVID-19 such as high fever, difficulty in breathing, or pneumonia are being given medications such as hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin.
Doha
Aggressive contact tracing and rapid testing for coronavirus (COVID-19) have led to a rise in the number of new cases every day and that’s the reason why Qatar has a relatively higher infection rate than other countries in the region, a senior health official has said.
"Qatar investigates each transmission chain and examines all the people who have come in contact with infected persons. Many countries don’t do that,” Dr Abdullatif al Khal, Co-chair of the National Epidemic Preparation Committee, told @covid19qatar in a statement.
"When a person is tested positive for COVID-19, the Ministry of Public Health sends medical teams to his workplace and his place of residence and then identifies all the people who have come in contact with him. Between 2,000 and 3,000 contacts are being examined every day,” he said.
These measures, he said, have resulted in discovery of more cases.
"Most of them do not exhibit any symptoms and if they remain in contact with the public, it will cause the virus to spread further, he added.
Terming the high infection rate in Qatar a cause for concern, Dr Khal called on the public to stay at home as far as possible and practice social distancing.
He urged the public to wear masks and maintain a distance of at least 2 metres from others when in crowded places such as markets.
He said the Ministry of Public Health has stepped up efforts to track the transitional chains of the virus and expanded the search for people infected by conducting extensive and proactive investigations of large numbers of contacts with people who have recently been confirmed with the disease.
Dr Khal indicated that the results of the new American medicine – remdesivir -- to treat COVID-19 patients are very promising.
The results indicated that the drug helped reduce the recovery period from 15 to 11 days. It also helped reducing the number of deaths.
He pointed out that the world is waiting for more results and details about these experiences. When the drug is put in the market, it will be made available to patients in Qatar, he added.
Dr Khal said people suffering from severe infections from COVID-19 such as high fever, difficulty in breathing, or pneumonia are being given medications such as hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin.