If number of new Covid-19 cases continues to rise in Qatar, restrictions may have to be re-imposed

If number of new Covid-19 cases continues to rise in Qatar, some restrictions may have to be re-imposed

If number of new Covid-19 cases continues to rise, some restrictions may have to be re-imposed to limit the spread of the virus in Qatar, says Dr Abdullatif al-Khal

Increase in Covid cases may be signs of a new wave of the pandemic in Qatar: Dr Al Khal

The increase number of new COVID-19 cases and in the number of people hospitalized every week, a matter of concern as it may be signs of a new wave of the pandemic in Qatar, said Dr. Abdullatif Al Khal, Chair of the National Health Strategic Group on COVID-19 and Head of Infectious Diseases at Hamad Medical Corporation. 

He was addressing a televised press conference held to announce the new developments related to COVID-19 in the country.  

According to Dr. Al Khal, across the world many countries are now experiencing second or third waves of the virus which are stronger than their first waves that happened during 2020. 

“Over the past month in Qatar we have seen a gradual and consistent increase in the number of new daily infections. Additionally, and of great concern, is the increase since mid-December in both the number of people with COVID-19 in hospital and the number of people in ICU,” he said. 

Dr. Al Khal further said: 

The data over the next few days and week will tell us more, but these increases appear to be the early signs of a potential second wave in Qatar.

For this reason, it is more important than ever that people adhere to preventive measures to cut off second wave before it gains momentum.

If numbers of positive cases and hospital admissions continue to increase over the coming week or two, additional restrictions may need to be implemented across the country and we will return to some of the early restriction phases

I ask everyone to follow the preventive recommendations: Wear a mask as advised; maintain social distancing; avoid large gatherings of people; and wash your hands regularly. 

Today, we reached a significant milestone in administering the fifty thousandth Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine in Qatar.

This is a wonderful achievement and a significant step forward knowing that many of our most vulnerable members of the community are now becoming more protected against COVID-19.

We were clear from the outset that we only wanted to administer an internationally approved, safe and effective vaccine for the people of Qatar and while this meant that we had to start our vaccination program after some other countries around the world, we are confident that our decision was in the best interests of Qatar’s population.

COVID-19 vaccination: 50,000 doses given so far in Qatar, says Dr Khal

Qatar has so far given 50,000 doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine to people as part of its biggest-ever vaccination campaign to eradicate COVID-19, Dr Abdullatif al-Khal, the chair of the National Health Strategic Group on the pandemic, said in a press conference on Thursday.

He, however, blamed the public indifference to preventive measures for a recent surge in new infections. Qatar added more than 1,000 new cases just over the last week to push the total active cases closer to 4,500. The number of daily cases, which had been hovering around 200, has now crossed 300. The cases have almost "doubled" in the past few weeks, he said, adding that the number of COVID-19 patients needing hospitalisation has also been increasing over the past three weeks.

Dr Khal, who is also the head of the Communicable Diseases Department at the Hamad Medical Corporation, said the rise in new cases is a cause for concern it was an indication of a potential second wave of infections in the country.

He said the situation is leading to more people requiring intensive care treatment.

Dr Khal said wedding and public gatherings were found to have played a part in the resurgence of COVID-19 infection in Qatar.  

Qatar to make COVID-19 vaccine available to all citizens, residents before 2021-end

Qatar is committed to providing COVID-19 vaccine to all citizens and residents in the country before the end of 2021, Dr Abdullatif al-Khal, the chair of the National Health Strategic Group on the pandemic, said in a press conference on Thursday.

The Ministry of Public Health's strategic vaccination plan is being rolled out in four stages, he said, adding than the priority is for people most vulnerable to infection.

Across the world, many countries are now experiencing second or third waves of the virus which are stronger than their first waves that happened during 2020, he said.

"Recently in Qatar, We have seen a gradual and consistent increase in the number of new daily infections. Additionally, and of great concern, is the recent increase in both the number of people with COVID-19 in hospital and the number of people in ICU," he said.

"The data over the next few days and week will tell us more, but these increases appear to be the early signs of a potential second wave in Qatar.For this reason, it is more important than ever that people adhere to preventive measures to cut off second wave before it gains momentum.

"If the number of positive cases and hospital admissions continue to increase over the coming week or two, additional restrictions may need to be implemented across the country and we will return to some of the early restriction phases," Dr Khal said.

"I ask everyone to follow the preventive recommendations: Wear a mask as advised; maintain social distancing; avoid large gatherings of people; and wash your hands regularly."

Moderna vaccine to arrive in Qatar in 10 days: Dr Romaihi

Qatar's massive vaccination campaign to eradicate COVID-19 is expected to pick up pace in a fortnight as the first vaccine batch from Moderna will arrive in Doha in 10 days, Dr Hamad Al Romaihi, the    Director of Health Protection and Communicable Disease Control at the Public Health Department, said in a press conference on Thursday.

"While this will be a very limited quantity, this is an encouraging development and we can expect regular, larger deliveries of both Moderna and Pfizer/BioNTech vaccines to arrive from early March," Dr Romaihi, who is also the co-chair of the National Pandemic Preparation Committee, said.

Shipments from Pfizer and BioNtech will arrive in Qatar on a weekly basis throughout the month of February, he added. "From March onwards we will have significantly greater quantities of vaccines available to us and be able to greatly expand our output." 

Qatar has deals with both the vaccine makers to bring their doses to the Qatar.

"Our vaccination campaign strategy will enable everyone who needs to be vaccinated to do so in 2021, but for now we must prioritize people most at risk from severe complications from the virus," Dr Romaihi said.

"Our strategy for the COVID vaccination campaign — the biggest vaccination campaign ever to be delivered in Qatar — is made up of four phases throughout 2021. Since the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ministry of Public Health and key government partners have been closely working with several leading pharmaceutical companies around the world who were in advanced stages of developing vaccines against COVID-19," he said.

"This proactive approach to securing a COVID-19 vaccine proved very effective and two agreements were signed — with Pfizer and BioNTech and Moderna. The Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine was the first of these two be given FDA approval and on 21 December Qatar received its first shipment. As with all countries across the world, we are currently faced with limited supplies of vaccines from Pfizer/BioNtech as they work to meet global demand. We have now received several shipments of Pfizer and BioNTech vaccines and we are due to receive weekly deliveries throughout February."

Vaccine: 90,000 people interested

Dr Mariam Abdulmalik, the Managing Director of the Primary Health Care Corporation, said following the launch of the online vaccine registration, more than 90,000 people have registered their interest in getting the doses. "As more vaccines become available to us in Qatar, the registration form will provide a valuable resource for us to contact people who wish to receive the vaccine as early as possible," she said.

In the first few weeks of the campaign, Qatar's medical teams have carefully monitored all patients following their vaccinations as this essential to check for possible side effects, Dr Abdulmalik said.

"As with any vaccination we have seen a small number of mild side effects, mainly soreness at the site of the injection. However, we have not seen any serious side effects directly related to the vaccine among patients receiving either the first or second dose of the vaccine."

More than 90,000 register for vaccine; no serious side effects: Dr Mariam Abdulmalik

Managing director of Primary Health Care Corporation, Dr Mariam AbdulMalik has said that in the first few weeks of the COVID-19 vaccination campaign the medical teams have carefully monitored all recipients following their vaccinations as this essential to check for possible side effects. 

“As with any vaccination we have seen a small number of mild side effects, mainly soreness at the site of the injection. However, we have not seen any serious side effects directly related to the vaccine among patients receiving either the first or second dose of the vaccine,” she said speaking at a televised press conference held to announce the new developments related to COVID-19 in the country.

From the 13th of January many thousands of people began receiving their second dose of the vaccine and with operations running smoothly we expanded the vaccination campaign across 27 health centers across Qatar, Dr Abdulmalik sid.

"This has boosted our capacity to administer vaccines and as more vaccines become available to us in Qatar, we will continue to increase output. As we progress through the phases of the campaign, and larger quantities of the vaccine become available to us in Qatar, we will continue to increase the number of vaccines we administer every week . Patients who are eligible to receive the vaccine in Phase 1 selected are being contacted directly by phone/SMS to advise them of their selection for the vaccine and invited to attend an appointment at one of the health centers.

"A recent advance is the launch of a new MOPH online system for people to register their interest in receiving COVID-19 vaccine. People registering their desire to get the vaccine online and who meet the criteria for the first priority groups will be given earlier appointments to take the vaccines. People who register via the online page but who are not in one of the listed priority groups, will have their interest recorded and saved by the MOPH, and they will be contacted when they become eligible. 

Following the launch of the online vaccine registration, more than 90,000 people have registered their interest.

- In the first few weeks of the campaign our medical teams have carefully monitored all patients following their vaccinations as this essential to check for possible side effects.

- As with any vaccination we have seen a small number of mild side effects, mainly soreness at the site of the injection.

- However, we have not seen any serious side effects directly related to the vaccine among patients receiving either the first or second dose of the vaccine 

- From the 13th of January many thousands of people began receiving their second dose of the vaccine and with operations running smoothly we expanded the vaccination campaign to include all 27 health centers across Qatar.

- This has boosted our capacity to administer vaccines and as more vaccines become available to us in Qatar, we will continue to increase output

- As we progress through the phases of the campaign, and larger quantities of the vaccine become available to us in Qatar, we will continue to increase the number of vaccines we administer every week 

- Patients who are eligible to receive the vaccine in Phase 1 selected are being contacted directly by phone/SMS to advise them of their selection for the vaccine and invited to attend an appointment at one of the health centers

- A recent advance is the launch of a new MOPH online system for people to register their interest in receiving COVID-19 vaccine

- People registering their desire to get the vaccine online and who meet the criteria for the first priority groups will be given earlier appointments to take the vaccines

- People who register via the online page but who are not in one of the listed priority groups, will have their interest recorded and saved by the MOPH, and they will be contacted when they become eligible.

- As more vaccines become available to us in Qatar this registration form will provide a valuable resource for us to contact people who wish to receive the vaccine as early as possible.