Tribune News Network
Doha
Qatar is now seeing an increase in positive COVID-19 cases with the new variant known as B.1.1.7 (UK strain), which is more contagious, a senior health official has said.
"Qatar’s strict quarantine policy for returning travellers enabled us to delay the introduction of new variants into this country for several months, but we are now seeing positive COVID-19 cases in the region and in Qatar with the new variant known as B.1.1.7 (UK strain),” Dr Abdullatif Al Khal, Chair of the National Health Strategic Group on COVID-19, said while addressing a press conference in Doha on Wednesday.
He said this new variant is much more contagious and spreads more easily between people than the existing strain and may be associated with increased severity of disease.
"We continue to see a significant number of new cases each day and everyday people are becoming sick due to the COVID-19 with many requiring admissions to hospitals to manage their symptoms and even admission into ICU for life-saving treatment,” he said.
Dr Al Khal said, "The good news is that the two COVID-19 vaccines available in Qatar — Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna —are effective against the new variants.”
The COVID-19 infections in Qatar have been significantly increasing over the past few weeks, quadrupling what it was in January 2021, he said, adding that the infections have increased in all age groups, including the elderly. "This is an indication of the transmission of the virus among family members, which is often caused by visits, events and social gatherings,” he added.
The cases of severe infection that require hospitalization have also increased significantly, at a rate of more than three times of what it was in last January, Dr Al Khal said. He said the number of COVID-19 patients transferred to the intensive care has increased to 120 over the past weeks. The capacities of COVID-19-designated hospitals have been increased by 60-70 percent.
He said more than 380,000 COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered since the start of the COVID-19 National Vaccination Programme, covering nearly 12 percent of the community members.
"More than 15,000 vaccine doses are being administered a day at present, and it is reassuring to know that no serious side effects have been reported,” he added.
More than 70 percent of health workers at HMC and more than 67 percent of health workers at PHCC have been vaccinated, he added. The vaccine will be made available to health workers in private hospitals and private clinics, starting next week.
More than 45 percent of teachers and administrators working in public and private schools have also received the vaccine so far.
The registration for the vaccination of imams, muezzins and mosque workers has also begun, he added.
A large percentage of Qatar’s population will be vaccinated against COVID-19 by summer,he said, but warned that the dangers associated with the disease will continue until the end of this year.
"In the event of a significant increase in the number of new COVID-19 cases in the coming period, further restrictions are likely to be imposed,” Dr Al Khal said.
"We continue to monitor the risk of infection within schools and it is pleasing that with schools strictly enforcing the preventive measures we are not seeing any spikes in infection caused by transmission within schools,” Dr Al Khal said.
However, with government schools beginning their post-exam break, it is important that parents and children continue to follow the preventive measures throughout the break to prevent a rise in infections among children before returning to classrooms in a few weeks, he added.
Dr Al Khal said the pace of the vaccination programme means that there is finally hope of a "gradual return to normal for us here in Qatar and people around the world. But this will not happen in the next few weeks or months.”
"COVID-19 will continue to be a threat to the health for the majority of 2021 and until all eligible members of our population have been vaccinated, we must continue to follow the preventive measures,” he added.
With regard to pregnant women taking the vaccine, Dr Al Khal said there is no indication that the vaccination is not safe during pregnancy, whether for the mother or the foetus. It is known that COVID-19 infection during pregnancy may lead to severe complications.
For his part, Dr Ahmed Al Muhammad, Acting Chairman of HMC’s Intensive Care Units, said, "We noticed that people infected with the new strain of the virus develop more severe symptoms and spend a longer period of recovery.”
"Every day we are seeing more people admitted to hospital and ICU requiring life-saving treatment. Since February 1, we have seen around a 110 percent increase in people receiving care in ICU. This is incredibly concerning as many of these people are severely sick and require intensive treatment and advanced respiratory support,” he said.
Dr Al Muhammad said despite the large increase in hospital and ICU admissions, the healthcare sector is able to care for each and every one of these patients.
"At the start of the pandemic last year, we had a plan to significantly expand bed capacity across our hospital system to meet increased demand due to COVID-19. To meet the increased demand due to the recent rise in cases, we have once again developed a capacity expansion plan to ensure that we have enough beds for people needing care,” he added.
It is very important that people seek help early — as soon as they notice the signs and symptoms — as the earlier treatment can be given the better the chances of a full recovery.
The main COVID-19 symptoms are:
1. A high temperature (fever); 2. A new, continuous cough; 3 A loss or change to your sense of smell or taste
"Anyone experiencing these signs should get a COVID-19 test as soon as possible,” he added.
Doha
Qatar is now seeing an increase in positive COVID-19 cases with the new variant known as B.1.1.7 (UK strain), which is more contagious, a senior health official has said.
"Qatar’s strict quarantine policy for returning travellers enabled us to delay the introduction of new variants into this country for several months, but we are now seeing positive COVID-19 cases in the region and in Qatar with the new variant known as B.1.1.7 (UK strain),” Dr Abdullatif Al Khal, Chair of the National Health Strategic Group on COVID-19, said while addressing a press conference in Doha on Wednesday.
He said this new variant is much more contagious and spreads more easily between people than the existing strain and may be associated with increased severity of disease.
"We continue to see a significant number of new cases each day and everyday people are becoming sick due to the COVID-19 with many requiring admissions to hospitals to manage their symptoms and even admission into ICU for life-saving treatment,” he said.
Dr Al Khal said, "The good news is that the two COVID-19 vaccines available in Qatar — Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna —are effective against the new variants.”
The COVID-19 infections in Qatar have been significantly increasing over the past few weeks, quadrupling what it was in January 2021, he said, adding that the infections have increased in all age groups, including the elderly. "This is an indication of the transmission of the virus among family members, which is often caused by visits, events and social gatherings,” he added.
The cases of severe infection that require hospitalization have also increased significantly, at a rate of more than three times of what it was in last January, Dr Al Khal said. He said the number of COVID-19 patients transferred to the intensive care has increased to 120 over the past weeks. The capacities of COVID-19-designated hospitals have been increased by 60-70 percent.
He said more than 380,000 COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered since the start of the COVID-19 National Vaccination Programme, covering nearly 12 percent of the community members.
"More than 15,000 vaccine doses are being administered a day at present, and it is reassuring to know that no serious side effects have been reported,” he added.
More than 70 percent of health workers at HMC and more than 67 percent of health workers at PHCC have been vaccinated, he added. The vaccine will be made available to health workers in private hospitals and private clinics, starting next week.
More than 45 percent of teachers and administrators working in public and private schools have also received the vaccine so far.
The registration for the vaccination of imams, muezzins and mosque workers has also begun, he added.
A large percentage of Qatar’s population will be vaccinated against COVID-19 by summer,he said, but warned that the dangers associated with the disease will continue until the end of this year.
"In the event of a significant increase in the number of new COVID-19 cases in the coming period, further restrictions are likely to be imposed,” Dr Al Khal said.
"We continue to monitor the risk of infection within schools and it is pleasing that with schools strictly enforcing the preventive measures we are not seeing any spikes in infection caused by transmission within schools,” Dr Al Khal said.
However, with government schools beginning their post-exam break, it is important that parents and children continue to follow the preventive measures throughout the break to prevent a rise in infections among children before returning to classrooms in a few weeks, he added.
Dr Al Khal said the pace of the vaccination programme means that there is finally hope of a "gradual return to normal for us here in Qatar and people around the world. But this will not happen in the next few weeks or months.”
"COVID-19 will continue to be a threat to the health for the majority of 2021 and until all eligible members of our population have been vaccinated, we must continue to follow the preventive measures,” he added.
With regard to pregnant women taking the vaccine, Dr Al Khal said there is no indication that the vaccination is not safe during pregnancy, whether for the mother or the foetus. It is known that COVID-19 infection during pregnancy may lead to severe complications.
For his part, Dr Ahmed Al Muhammad, Acting Chairman of HMC’s Intensive Care Units, said, "We noticed that people infected with the new strain of the virus develop more severe symptoms and spend a longer period of recovery.”
"Every day we are seeing more people admitted to hospital and ICU requiring life-saving treatment. Since February 1, we have seen around a 110 percent increase in people receiving care in ICU. This is incredibly concerning as many of these people are severely sick and require intensive treatment and advanced respiratory support,” he said.
Dr Al Muhammad said despite the large increase in hospital and ICU admissions, the healthcare sector is able to care for each and every one of these patients.
"At the start of the pandemic last year, we had a plan to significantly expand bed capacity across our hospital system to meet increased demand due to COVID-19. To meet the increased demand due to the recent rise in cases, we have once again developed a capacity expansion plan to ensure that we have enough beds for people needing care,” he added.
It is very important that people seek help early — as soon as they notice the signs and symptoms — as the earlier treatment can be given the better the chances of a full recovery.
The main COVID-19 symptoms are:
1. A high temperature (fever); 2. A new, continuous cough; 3 A loss or change to your sense of smell or taste
"Anyone experiencing these signs should get a COVID-19 test as soon as possible,” he added.