Qatar reimposes four-tier plan to restrict curb of coronavirus

Qatar plans to reimpose a four-tier plan of Covid-19 restrictions depending on the extent of virus spread in the country.

The COVID-19 restrictions will be reimposed in four stages if the need arises,  Dr Abdullatif Al Khal, Chair of the National Health Strategic Group on COVID-19, has said.

The four levels are:

1. Restrictions on high-risk activities

2. For moderate to high risk activities if the infection prevalence has not decreased

3. Further restrictions

4. Complete closure

“The plan can be applied to all regions of Qatar or on a specific area. Some restrictions can be selected over others for each level,” Dr Al Khal said during a press conference on Wednesday.

The current status will be reviewed every three weeks.

Qatar plans to reimpose a four-tier plan of Covid-19 restrictions depending on the extent of virus spread in the country. 

This was announced by  Dr Abdullatif Al Khal, Chair of the National Health Strategic Group on COVID-19 and Head of Infectious Diseases at Hamad Medical Corporation in a joint press conference by the senior officials from MoPH, MoI and MoCI telecast on Qatar Television. 

Dr Khal announced that there has been a significant increase in Covid infections and daily hospital admissions in Qatar, which could be an early indicator of a possible second wave of the pandemic in the country. 

Explaining the four-tier plan, Dr Al Khal said first restrictions are imposed on high-risk activities and at the second level restrictions are on medium-risk activities, followed by more restrictions in third level if the numbers go up with the final level plan being complete closure. 

It was decided to implement most of the restrictions from the second level of the plan, with some exceptions.

He further stated that the ministry adopts six indicators to measure the extent of virus’s spread and to take appropriate decisions - the overall rate of positive daily examinations, the percentage of positive screening in randomized surveys, the number of severe injuries daily that are hospitalized, the number of daily critical cases admitted to intensive care units, a 14-day cumulative incidence rate per 100,000 and reproductive number (Rt).

It is possible new Covid strain has reached Qatar, warns Dr Al Khal

Coronavirus is constantly mutating during its transmission from one person to another and it has likely reached us in Qatar, warned Dr Abdullatif Al Khal, Chair of the National Health Strategic Group on COVID-19 and Head of Infectious Diseases at Hamad Medical Corporation.  

Dr Al Khal announced this in a joint press conference by the senior officials from MoPH, MoI and MoCI telecast on Qatar Television. 

He stated that coronavirus is constantly mutating during its transmission from one person to another, which leads to new strains, as two new strains were detected in UK and South Africa and it has certainly reached the Gulf countries and it is very likely that it reached us in Qatar. 

He further warned that it is not clear the size of the second wave, but taking precautionary decisions and community cooperation will curb the intensity of this wave. 

Qatar has planned a four-tier plan of restrictions to be reimposed. He added that if the restrictions imposed on weddings and get togethers are not adhered to, they will be stopped completely.

Ministry to intensify patrol for violations of Covid-19 restrictions

Police patrols on roads and neighbourhoods will be increased to catch those violating precautionary measures, said Brigadier Abdullah Khalifa Al Muftah, Director of the Public Relations Department at the Ministry of Interior (MoI). 

Dr Muftah announced this in a joint press conference along with Dr Abdullatif Al Khal, Chair of the National Health Strategic Group on COVID-19 and Head of Infectious Diseases at Hamad Medical Corporation and MoCI telecast on Qatar Television.

“The total number of violators of the precautionary measures reached 14513, including nearly 10,000 violators in the past three months alone,” added Brigadier Al Muftah. 

He also said that an application must be submitted to hold weddings from next Sunday. Qatar also announced a plan to reimpose four-tier plan of Covid-19 restrictions.

Today Qatar Cabinet had announced not to hold wedding parties in closed and open spaces until further notice, this excludes home or majlis weddings, in the presence of no more than 10 people in closed places and 20 people in open spaces who are relatives of the spouses.

People need to notify the Ministry of Interior of the date and place of the wedding ceremony and pledging to abide by the procedures and precautionary measures according to the mechanism determined by the ministry.

Ministry of Commerce encourages shops to shift to e-commerce platforms

Ministry of Commerce and Industry encouraged shops and business to increase e-commerce services as much as possible and support companies in completing this vital trend. 

This was stated by Saleh bin Majid Al-Khulaifi, Acting Undersecretary for Trade Affairs in a joint press conference along with Dr Abdullatif Al Khal, Chair of the National Health Strategic Group on COVID-19 and Head of Infectious Diseases at Hamad Medical Corporation and MoI and Brigadier

Abdullah Khalifa Al Muftah, Director of the Public Relations Department at the Ministry of Interior (MoI) telecast on Qatar Television. 

He added that it is important for companies in the private sector to adhere to the precautionary measures to avoid the application of any penalties, fines and any closure of their activities.

Earlier today Qatar Cabinet had announced many measures to curb the spread of the virus including continuing the restrictions of commercial complexes with a capacity that does not exceed 50%, with the closure of all food courts inside the commercial complexes and allowing these restaurants to make take away or delivery orders.

The Ministry also limited the capacity of indoor seating areas in restaurants and cafes to 15% of the premises' total capacity, 30% for restaurants and cafés that have the Qatar Clean programme certificate, limiting the capacity of outdoor seating areas to 50% of the commercial site's total capacity.