The work is currently under way to provide field medical facilities to offer basic medical and nursing services for coronavirus (COVID-19) patients in the country.
This was announced by HE Lolwah bint Rashid bin Mohammed al Khater, Spokesperson of the Supreme Committee for Crisis Management, at a press conference on Tuesday.
“Once the work is complete in few weeks, the total capacity of beds in Qatar will reach 18,000. This is done in the framework of taking proactive measures and planning for the future,” Khater said.
She said the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH), in cooperation with the armed forces, has established two temporary medical facilities that will provide basic medical attention to workers who have mild cases.
“Those two facilities have a total of 4,645 beds. The two facilities provide medical and nursing care around the clock,” She said, adding that the facilities are comfortable, provide the appropriate nutrition, security, management of waste, in addition to internet service.
Khater said 25 new coronavirus cases were registered on Tuesday, including nine Qataris who returned from abroad. Five of the nine Qataris returned from the UK.
She said all the new cases were quarantined, with one of the Qatari cases in intensive care.
Khater said four patients, including one Qatari citizen, recovered from the virus, taking the total number of recoveries in Qatar to 41.
“The current period is a temporary one and the country will come out stronger,” she said emphasizing that cooperation was crucial to overcoming the virus.
She praised the citizens and residents for the sense of responsibility they had as they committed to social distancing and all the precautionary measures against the coronavirus.
Meanwhile, Khater said Supreme Committee for Crisis Management’s volunteering programme received a massive response from Qatar’s citizens and residents.
She said the number of volunteers with the Ministry of Public Health, Qatar Charity and Qatar Red Crescent reached approximately 35,000 volunteers.
The Ministry of Public Health is now working with the relevant authorities to distribute volunteers according to the need and expertise, she added.
Khater stressed that Qatar is keen to provide the highest levels of medical services for all without exception and free of charge.
During the press conference, she reviewed the latest developments regarding the closed part of the Industrial Area, stressing that the MoPH worked to establish three mobile units for examination, in addition to six ambulances that roam the area for random examination to ensure that residents are free of the virus, and transfer those suspected of being infected to health authorities to receive the necessary care.
She said the food and medical supplies for the residents of the area continues in coordination with the concerned authorities, where nearly a 1,000 vehicles enter daily to transport essential materials while taking all necessary health precautions, praising in this context the cooperation of the residents of the area and their patience in these difficult times in addition to the cooperation of the relevant embassies to raise awareness and reassure their communities.
She clarified that, based on the directives of the Amir HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al Thani, which was announced in the first set of decisions, Qatar Central Bank issued a circular to banks and money exchanges operating in the country regarding the postponement of outstanding loan installments and interest for the affected sectors, for a period of six months from March 16.
The circular stipulated that a repurchase window (Repo) be allocated, with a zero rate, used by banks to postpone loan installments, or grant new loans, as well as the fees imposed on points of sale (POS) and ATM withdrawal fees.
She said that the loans mentioned in the circular did not include personal loans.
Khater pointed out that the Qatar Central Bank also issued a circular to banks and money exchanges operating in the country regarding the facilitation of electronic money transfers procedures abroad and the provision of electronic services to the workers category, and the announcement of all available electronic services by various means.
She said within the framework of the state’s plan to secure the flow of imports to the local market of food and consumer goods, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry will sign contracts this week with 14 companies to raise the strategic stock of food and consumer goods.
In this regard, she stressed that the materials are sufficiently available, and stressed the necessity of not crowding into supermarkets and foodstuff stores to preserve safety.
Also, she clarified that the transportation unit at the Amiri Air Force Qatari supervised, in cooperation with the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, the operating of regular flights to China to provide and meet all the needs of the local market of masks and medical sterilisers.
Khater pointed out that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has urged citizens, children, husbands, and wives of Qataris abroad to register their data through the Foreign Ministry's application and website to communicate with them in emergencies.
She stressed that Qatar does not forget in this crisis its brothers and friends who are doing their part to combat the epidemic, as Qatar has sent a number of medical shipments to friendly countries to combat this virus, including aid directed to the Palestinian brothers. She pointed out that the MoPH is in constant contact with its counterparts in different countries and the WHO to update the latest developments and solutions that can be applied to limit the spread of the virus.
She affirmed that Qatar will continue to provide assistance and support to all countries to combat this epidemic.
In response to questions, Khater said Qatar will be among the first countries to acquire any drug that proves to be effective in treating the coronavirus.
She said there is a lot of news that companies around the world have found a drug that treats the virus. She said the news are being circulated through some official sources and others through social media.
She said the information that should be taken into consideration that comes from official sources.
She said Qatar will spare no effort in providing any treatment that proves its medical and health efficacy. “The health services in Qatar are available to everyone without exception and free of charge,” she said, adding that Qatar provides this treatment free of charge.
When asked increasing hospital beds indicates an outbreak of the disease, she said the increase in the absorptive capacity is not related to any outbreak or increase in cases, but it has to do with precautionary measures and planning for the future.
“There is no doubt that this virus has spread worldwide. So, we are preparing according to these patterns. This does not mean that Qatar will necessarily reach this degree of spread of the virus,” she said.
“Infection with this virus has different degrees -- light, medium and high. There are people who develop mild cases and there is some kind of recovery. This means that even the numbers must be examined in detail, so planning is necessary at this stage in anticipation of anything in the future.”
She said the number of swabs that were made to discover the new cases are very large compared to the cases that were proven to be positive. It is a very reassuring indicator, but that does not mean giving up caution and taking measures, especially staying at home and maintaining the appropriate distance when dealing with others and other preventive measures.