Why does Qatar have a high rate of COVID-19 infection in the region? Dr Khal explains

Tribune News NetworkDohaQatar has a relatively higher coronavirus infection rate than other countries in the region due to its aggressive contact tracing and COVID-19 testing, Dr Abdullatif al Khal, Co-chair of the National Epidemic Preparation Committee, has said.“Qatar investigates each transmission chain and examines all persons who have come in contact with infected individuals. Many countries don’t do that, Dr Khal, who is also the chairman of the Centre for Communicable Diseases at the Hamad Medical Corporation, said in a statement issued to the Government Communication Office.When a person is tested positive for COVID-19, the Ministry of Public Health sends medical teams to their workplaces and places of residence and identifies all the people who have come in contact with them, he said.Every day, between 2,000 and 3,000 contacts are examined, he added.This results 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 home as far as possible and religiously practice social distancing.Wearing masks and maintain a distance of at least 2 metres from others when in crowded places such as markets, he said.Dr Khal said the interim analysis in US finding antiviral drug remdesivir’s positive effect in reducing COVID-19 recovery time was promisingThe results showed the drug helped reduced the recovery period from around 15 to 11 days.