Qatar & Covid, Part 13: The Variants Eliminate Gains While the Vaccine Program Accelerates
A Surge in Cases, Hospitalizations, and Deaths: Tighter Restrictions Hope to Control the Variants
Qatar's rumor mill accurately predicted that officials would impose more restrictions in early April to combat rising infections, hospitalizations, and deaths as the UK and South African variants took hold in the Qatari population.
While many people predicted officials would impose a hard lock-down, instead, the restrictions look more like a Phase 1 or Phase 1.5 lock-down. For comparison, see my discussion of the Phase 1 re-opening beginning on May 31 here and here, and for the Phase 2 re-opening here.
My guess is they will keep these restrictions in place through Eid to prevent an even greater surge in cases. Last year, officials announced that they had the virus under control in May. Then Ramadan started, and the country saw a surge of 45,000 cases. It tool officials another six weeks of hard lock-down to get the pandemic back under control.
The Doha News revealed that changes in the leadership of the pandemic response team may have stalled an earlier, more aggressive response in January or February 2021 that could have prevented the surge in new cases. The new leadership may have shown greater hesitancy in adopting measures that so severely impacted businesses and employees dependent on fewer restrictions. The newspaper reported:
The editorial also laid blame to pandemic fatigue among the public whose members are not adhering to precautionary measures with the same rigor.But an entire years’ worth of a pandemic is difficult to deal with. Qatar’s business community has been lobbying hard to sway authorities away from reimposing restrictions to allow for companies to recover from economic strain. It’s clear to see, though, that these business owners were shortsighted in their analysis of the situation, failing to see how a lack of imminent action to stop the spread of the virus now can and will deal a major blow to their pockets in the long-term.
Meanwhile, a source at Hamad Medical Corporation told Doha News that a change of leadership has also led to a lack of clear-cut strategy. Last year, Qatar’s health ministry appointed the director of HMC to implement strict measures – he did so successfully. However, a different official has since been given the reigns and sources say he has been “unable to steer the ship with the same efficiency as his predecessor”.
But it’s not just authorities who have dropped the ball.
Needless to say, and as expected, the public has grown extremely tired of the global state of affairs. This fatigue has been clearly demonstrated across the world, where people have started to take a more lax approach to precautionary measures.
Those who wore masks, gloves and even sanitised their shopping before unpacking at home now barely think twice about such precautions. After a year of restrictions and lockdown, society is simply tired of distancing themselves from friends and loved ones, and many have started to mingle in large groups indoors.
The balance between public health and the economy is not an easy one to find given the unprecedented nature of this pandemic in modern times.
Qatar's Response to the Pandemic: The Ongoing Timeline
What follows is a time-line I created to track mostly Qatar's response to the pandemic, Tangentially and for comparison, it refers to developments in the US, China, EU, and other countries. For its sourcing, I have relied on The Peninsula Qatar, Gulf News, Gulf Times, Qatar Tribune, Al Jazeera, the New York Times, and the Washington Post. I often reproduce content from the original source without using quotation marks, but I always include a link to the original source.
I include photos that tie to the more important posts, so you can use them to help locate specific information.
I pick-up my daily updates here. My updates for December 31, 2019 to April 30, 2020, appear in my Part 1 post. Posts for Part 2, May 1 to May 31, 2020 appear here. Posts for Part 3, June 1 to June 30, 2020 appear here. Posts for Part 4, July 1 to July 31, 2020 appear here. Posts for Part 5, August 1 to August 31, 2020 appear here. Posts for Part 6, September 1 to September 30, 2020 appear here. Posts for Part 7, October 1 to October 31, 2020 appear here. Posts for Part 8, November 1 to November 30, 2020 appear here. Posts for Part 9, December 1 to December 31, 2020 appear here. Posts for Part 10, January 1 to January 31, 2021 appear here. Posts for Part 11, February 1 to February 28, 2021 appear here. Posts for Part 12, March 1 to March 31, 2021 appear here.
April 1: Ministry of Education and Higher Education decided to adopt distance learning and suspend attendance of all students in all public and private universities, schools, and kindergartens in Qatar, as of Sunday, April 4, 2021.
April 2: Qatar reported 874 new cases, with 718 community infections and 156 from travelers. Infections total 181,678 with 16,377 active infections and 298 total deaths. Officials tested 7,870 people for the first time (showing their contact tracing efforts) with total test taken of 1,749,501. Hospitals admitted 236 people, bringing total to 1,640. ICUs admitted 31 people, bringing the total there to 379. Health officials provided 25,209 doses of the vaccine in the last 24 hours with total doses at 867,209.
April 3: Officials arrested one person for violating home quarantine.
April 4: The Ministry of Public Health in its weekly update of the COVID-19 Vaccination Program said that over 25% of adults have received at least one dose of the vaccine.
Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC) temporarily stops the provision of COVID-19 PCR swabs for people traveling abroad. PHCC tweeted this on their social media adding that private sector hospitals will provide all COVID-19 PCR swabs for people traveling abroad. Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) has approved 44 health centres in the country that can conduct PCR test for the novel coronavirus.
No visitors allowed in any of the Covid-19 hospitals. In non COVID-19 hospitals visitors are allowed between 3pm and 8pm, a HMC official said. The COVID-19 hospitals are: Al Wakra Hospital, Hazm Mebaireek General Hospital, Communicable Disease Center, The Cuban Hospital, Ras Lafan Hospital, Mesaieed Hospital and the Surgical Specialty Center. Food, flowers, drinks and chocolates are not allowed to be brought into the facilities.
Officials book 607 people for violating precautionary measures.
April 5: The Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC) has announced that, with effect from April 4, 2021, all non-essential health services will only be conducted through virtual consultations using both telephone and video.
Qatar Airways Cargo has crossed a milestone by transporting over 1.5 million COVID-19 vaccine doses into Qatar, with its largest batch of more than 530,000 Pfizer and Moderna vaccines arriving yesterday morning from Amsterdam.April 6:Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) has announced that you don’t need a health card for getting Covid-19 vaccine. You need your Qatari ID and a green Ehteraz status.
Officials book 477 people for violating precautionary measures.
Qatar Airways continues to lead the recovery of international travel, operating the world’s first fully COVID-19 vaccinated flight today. Flight QR6421 will depart Hamad International Airport at 11:00 AM carrying only vaccinated crew and passengers onboard, with passengers also to be served by fully vaccinated staff at check-in.
April 7: This day was a busy day full of official announcements.
Eight people died of COVID-9 today. At no time in the pandemic have so many people died on the same day in Qatar. In the chart below, deaths are indicated by the gray lines. Qatar saw 7 deaths on June 19, 2020. 
1,000,000 Doses!
The Ministry announced its decision to fix a flat rate of QR300 for Covid-19 testing in private health facilities.
Dr. Abdullatif Al Khal, Chair of the National Health Strategic Group on COVID-19 and Head of Infectious Diseases at Hamad Medical Corporation, said during a press conference to explain the Covid-19 situation in Qatar, that we have both UK and South Africa Covid-19 variants circulating in Qatar.
SUMMARY:
• During the past two weeks we have seen a significant increase in the number of new daily COVID-19 cases and we have recorded more than 900 new cases each day in the past few days.
• Of particular concern is the high number of people in intensive care. This figure is now significantly higher than at the peak of the first wave last year.
• Despite our strict quarantine policy that is in place for all travelers, the South Africa variant has now made its way into the community - meaning we have both the UK and South Africa variants circulating.
• Both these new strains cause more severe symptoms than the original strain and we believe the South Africa variant has had a significant impact on the rise in COVID-19 cases in the past ten days.
• Despite the rise in people requiring admission to hospital, the healthcare system has sufficient capacity to ensure everyone who needs medical care can receive it without delay.
• While managing to keep the virus under control throughout the last quarter of 2020, Qatar maintained a set of strict policies aimed at preventing a second wave.
• We continued to keep in place measures to prevent the virus from spreading - this included quarantine for travelers, mask wearing, social distancing, limits on gatherings, temperature and Ehteraz checks in all public buildings, and blended learning in schools.
• Despite these ongoing efforts to prevent a second wave, Qatar, like many countries in the region and around the world, has not been able to prevent a second wave.
Nurseries to close
Public beaches and parks for exercise only (no sitting)
Malls for over 16-year olds only
Workplaces at 50%
Salons and barbershops to close
Cafes and restaurants delivery only
1. WORKPLACES
Reducing the number of employees present at the workplace in government agencies to 50% of the total number of employees in each entity, and the rest of the employees conduct their work remotely from their homes or upon request, according to the circumstances, with the exception of the military, security and health sectors.
Reducing the number of workers present at the workplace in the private sector to (50%) of the total number of employees in each agency, and the rest of the workers start their work remotely from their homes, and the Ministry of Trade and Industry, in coordination with the concerned authorities, determines the necessary activities that are excluded from this decision.
All meetings that are held for employees and workers in the government and private sectors present at their place of work (remotely) shall be using modern technical means, and in case this is not possible, and in cases of necessity, the meeting shall be held with a number of not more than (5) persons, taking into account the taking of measures and measures Precautionary
2. RESTAURANTS & CAFES
Not to allow restaurants and cafes to serve food and drinks in open or closed places, and to allow them to offer those foods and drinks through external orders or deliver them inside the restaurant or cafe.
3. TRANSPORTATION
Continuation of work on what has been decided to reduce the number of people who are transported by buses to half the bus’s capacity, while taking precautions and precautionary measures.
Reducing the capacity of operating metro services by no more than (20%), stopping the operation of those services on Fridays and Saturdays every week, and reducing the capacity for operating public transport services by no more than (20%) with stopping the operation of those services in some lines and stopping Operating these services on Fridays and Saturdays every week, taking into account the closure of places designated for smoking, and not allowing food and drink to be consumed in the aforementioned transport.
4. EDUCATIONAL AND TRAINING CENTERS
Driving schools continue to be closed.
Continuing to allow private educational centers and training centers to provide their services through remote communication programs only.
Closing nurseries.
Continuing to allow individual educational sessions to be held in centers designated for people with special needs, while adhering to special requirements set by the Ministry of Public Health.
5. SPORTS
Individual sports such as walking, jogging and cycling are allowed, while still closing playgrounds and sports equipment in those places.
Continuing not to allow the training of sports teams, whether indoors or outdoors, with the exception of preparatory training for local and international tournaments approved by the Ministry of Public Health.
Obtaining prior approval from the Ministry of Public Health to organize local and international sporting events
6. COMMERCIAL ESTABLISHMENTS
Closing theaters and cinemas.
Closing beauty and hair salons.
The continued closure of all swimming pools and water parks.
Continuing work with the absorptive capacity of commercial complexes not exceeding (30%), and not allowing children under (16) years old to enter, and closing all chapels and changing rooms in these complexes, with the continued closure of all common restaurant yards within the commercial complexes, and allowing these restaurants By serving external orders or delivering them inside the restaurant.
The popular markets continue to operate with a capacity not exceeding (30%), and children under 16 years old are not allowed to enter, with these markets being closed on Friday and Saturday of every week.
The continued operation of wholesale markets with a capacity not exceeding (30%), and children under 16 years old are not allowed to enter.
7. BEACHES & PARKS
Gatherings or sitting are not allowed in public parks, beaches, and the corniche.
Continuing to open mosques to perform daily duties and Friday prayers, provided that Tarawih prayers are performed during the blessed month of Ramadan in homes, and children under 12 years old are not allowed to enter, while adhering to the precautionary measures set by the Ministry of Public Health and the Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs, with the continued closure Toilets and ablution facilities.
9. SOCIAL GATHERINGS
Preventing social gatherings and visits in closed places in homes and councils, and permitting the presence of a maximum of (5) people in open spaces, including those who have completed doses of the (Covid-19) vaccine.
The continued permission for family members residing in the same house only in winter camps.
Continued failure to hold weddings indoors and outdoors.
10. EVENTS & EXHIBITIONS
Postponing all conferences, exhibitions and events.
11. HEALTHCARE FACILITIES
Continuing to stop providing medical services in private health facilities, except in emergency cases, and allowing any of these facilities to provide some of their medical services that can be provided through modern means of communication.
12. BOATS
The continued suspension of the rental services of boats, tourist yachts and pleasure boats, with the exception of rental services for family members residing in the same house, and owners of boats and personal yachts are obligated, in the event that they are used, that other than the members of the family residing in the same house are not present on board or the presence of (5) people maximum From non-family members, provided that they have completed the doses of the (Covid-19) vaccine.
13. MUSEUMS & LIBRARIES
Closing public museums and libraries.
14. CLEANING & HOSPITALITY SERVICES
Not to allow cleaning and hospitality companies to provide their services during working hours to the establishments contracting with them, to allow the provision of their services with a full capacity outside the working hours of those facilities, and to allow the provision of their services at home by one person only while adhering to the special requirements set by the Ministry of Public Health in coordination with the Ministry trade and Industry.
15. PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES
Continuing work to compel all citizens and residents upon leaving the house for any reason to wear masks, unless the person is present himself while driving the vehicle or with his family.
Continued work to oblige all citizens and residents to activate the (EHTERAZ) application on smartphones when leaving the house for any reason.
Continuing work to oblige all citizens and residents when leaving and moving for any reason that no more than four people are in the vehicle, including the driver of the vehicle, with the exception of family members residing in the same house when leaving and moving in vehicles.
Second: In this regard, compliance with health requirements, procedures, precautionary measures and controls determined by the Ministry of Public Health should be taken into account.
Fourth: These decisions shall be effective from Friday 9/4/2021, until further notice."
We are still in the middle of the second wave of the Coronavirus pandemic, and we have not yet reached the peak, Dr Abdullatif Al Khal, Chairman of the National Pandemic Preparedness Committee, said at a press conference held to explain the current Covid-19 situation in Qatar. He said that most of the recent cases of Covid-19 are due to social visits. During the past week, 1,468 new Covid-19 cases were admitted to the hospital due to severe inflammation in the lungs and 266 cases were admitted to intensive care.
Dr. Abdullatif Al Khal, Chair of the National Health Strategic Group on COVID-19 and Head of Infectious Diseases at Hamad Medical Corporation, said during a press conference to explain the Covid-19 situation in Qatar, that we have both UK and South Africa Covid-19 variants circulating in Qatar.
SUMMARY:
• During the past two weeks we have seen a significant increase in the number of new daily COVID-19 cases and we have recorded more than 900 new cases each day in the past few days.
• Of particular concern is the high number of people in intensive care. This figure is now significantly higher than at the peak of the first wave last year.
• Despite our strict quarantine policy that is in place for all travelers, the South Africa variant has now made its way into the community - meaning we have both the UK and South Africa variants circulating.
• Both these new strains cause more severe symptoms than the original strain and we believe the South Africa variant has had a significant impact on the rise in COVID-19 cases in the past ten days.
• Despite the rise in people requiring admission to hospital, the healthcare system has sufficient capacity to ensure everyone who needs medical care can receive it without delay.
• While managing to keep the virus under control throughout the last quarter of 2020, Qatar maintained a set of strict policies aimed at preventing a second wave.
• We continued to keep in place measures to prevent the virus from spreading - this included quarantine for travelers, mask wearing, social distancing, limits on gatherings, temperature and Ehteraz checks in all public buildings, and blended learning in schools.
• Despite these ongoing efforts to prevent a second wave, Qatar, like many countries in the region and around the world, has not been able to prevent a second wave.
The Ministries announced new restrictions effective Friday, April 9, 2021:
HIGHLIGHTS
Public beaches and parks for exercise only (no sitting)
Malls for over 16-year olds only
Workplaces at 50%
Salons and barbershops to close
Cafes and restaurants delivery only
1. WORKPLACES
Reducing the number of employees present at the workplace in government agencies to 50% of the total number of employees in each entity, and the rest of the employees conduct their work remotely from their homes or upon request, according to the circumstances, with the exception of the military, security and health sectors.
Reducing the number of workers present at the workplace in the private sector to (50%) of the total number of employees in each agency, and the rest of the workers start their work remotely from their homes, and the Ministry of Trade and Industry, in coordination with the concerned authorities, determines the necessary activities that are excluded from this decision.
All meetings that are held for employees and workers in the government and private sectors present at their place of work (remotely) shall be using modern technical means, and in case this is not possible, and in cases of necessity, the meeting shall be held with a number of not more than (5) persons, taking into account the taking of measures and measures Precautionary
2. RESTAURANTS & CAFES
Not to allow restaurants and cafes to serve food and drinks in open or closed places, and to allow them to offer those foods and drinks through external orders or deliver them inside the restaurant or cafe.
3. TRANSPORTATION
Continuation of work on what has been decided to reduce the number of people who are transported by buses to half the bus’s capacity, while taking precautions and precautionary measures.
Reducing the capacity of operating metro services by no more than (20%), stopping the operation of those services on Fridays and Saturdays every week, and reducing the capacity for operating public transport services by no more than (20%) with stopping the operation of those services in some lines and stopping Operating these services on Fridays and Saturdays every week, taking into account the closure of places designated for smoking, and not allowing food and drink to be consumed in the aforementioned transport.
4. EDUCATIONAL AND TRAINING CENTERS
Driving schools continue to be closed.
Continuing to allow private educational centers and training centers to provide their services through remote communication programs only.
Closing nurseries.
Continuing to allow individual educational sessions to be held in centers designated for people with special needs, while adhering to special requirements set by the Ministry of Public Health.
5. SPORTS
Individual sports such as walking, jogging and cycling are allowed, while still closing playgrounds and sports equipment in those places.
Continuing not to allow the training of sports teams, whether indoors or outdoors, with the exception of preparatory training for local and international tournaments approved by the Ministry of Public Health.
Obtaining prior approval from the Ministry of Public Health to organize local and international sporting events
6. COMMERCIAL ESTABLISHMENTS
Closing theaters and cinemas.
Closing beauty and hair salons.
Amusement parks and all entertainment centers continue to be closed.
The continued closure of health clubs and physical training clubs, the stopping of massage services, saunas, steam rooms, Jacuzzi services, and Moroccan and Turkish baths.
The continued closure of health clubs and physical training clubs, the stopping of massage services, saunas, steam rooms, Jacuzzi services, and Moroccan and Turkish baths.
The continued closure of all swimming pools and water parks.
Continuing work with the absorptive capacity of commercial complexes not exceeding (30%), and not allowing children under (16) years old to enter, and closing all chapels and changing rooms in these complexes, with the continued closure of all common restaurant yards within the commercial complexes, and allowing these restaurants By serving external orders or delivering them inside the restaurant.
The popular markets continue to operate with a capacity not exceeding (30%), and children under 16 years old are not allowed to enter, with these markets being closed on Friday and Saturday of every week.
The continued operation of wholesale markets with a capacity not exceeding (30%), and children under 16 years old are not allowed to enter.
7. BEACHES & PARKS
Gatherings or sitting are not allowed in public parks, beaches, and the corniche.
8. MOSQUES
Continuing to open mosques to perform daily duties and Friday prayers, provided that Tarawih prayers are performed during the blessed month of Ramadan in homes, and children under 12 years old are not allowed to enter, while adhering to the precautionary measures set by the Ministry of Public Health and the Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs, with the continued closure Toilets and ablution facilities.
9. SOCIAL GATHERINGS
Preventing social gatherings and visits in closed places in homes and councils, and permitting the presence of a maximum of (5) people in open spaces, including those who have completed doses of the (Covid-19) vaccine.
The continued permission for family members residing in the same house only in winter camps.
Continued failure to hold weddings indoors and outdoors.
10. EVENTS & EXHIBITIONS
Postponing all conferences, exhibitions and events.
11. HEALTHCARE FACILITIES
Continuing to stop providing medical services in private health facilities, except in emergency cases, and allowing any of these facilities to provide some of their medical services that can be provided through modern means of communication.
12. BOATS
The continued suspension of the rental services of boats, tourist yachts and pleasure boats, with the exception of rental services for family members residing in the same house, and owners of boats and personal yachts are obligated, in the event that they are used, that other than the members of the family residing in the same house are not present on board or the presence of (5) people maximum From non-family members, provided that they have completed the doses of the (Covid-19) vaccine.
13. MUSEUMS & LIBRARIES
Closing public museums and libraries.
14. CLEANING & HOSPITALITY SERVICES
Not to allow cleaning and hospitality companies to provide their services during working hours to the establishments contracting with them, to allow the provision of their services with a full capacity outside the working hours of those facilities, and to allow the provision of their services at home by one person only while adhering to the special requirements set by the Ministry of Public Health in coordination with the Ministry trade and Industry.
15. PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES
Continuing work to compel all citizens and residents upon leaving the house for any reason to wear masks, unless the person is present himself while driving the vehicle or with his family.
Continued work to oblige all citizens and residents to activate the (EHTERAZ) application on smartphones when leaving the house for any reason.
Continuing work to oblige all citizens and residents when leaving and moving for any reason that no more than four people are in the vehicle, including the driver of the vehicle, with the exception of family members residing in the same house when leaving and moving in vehicles.
Second: In this regard, compliance with health requirements, procedures, precautionary measures and controls determined by the Ministry of Public Health should be taken into account.
Third: The Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry of Public Health, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry and other government agencies, each in its respective jurisdiction, shall take the necessary measures in this regard, to ensure compliance with health requirements, procedures, and prescribed precautionary measures.
Fourth: These decisions shall be effective from Friday 9/4/2021, until further notice."
The vaccine received must be approved by the Ministry of Public Health in Qatar, to include:
- Pfizer/BioNTech Vaccine
- Moderna vaccine
- AstraZeneca vaccine
- Johnson & Johnson vaccine
A period of 14 days must have passed from the date of receiving the single dose of Johnson & Johnson vaccine and the same period following the second dose of the other vaccines indicated above.
A person must present an official certificate or a vaccination card containing the following information:
- The person's name as mentioned in his official documents.
- The date of receipt of doses depending on the type of vaccine.
- The name of the vaccine.
- The serial number of vaccine.
- The official logo or the official seal of the vaccination facility.
- The person's COVID-19 PCR test result must be negative, either by taking the test at one of Qatar's ports of entry or by submitting a certificate authenticating that the person is virus-free by taking the test at one of the vaccination centers accredited by the Ministry of Public Health abroad, provided that the certificate validity should not exceed 72 hours upon arrival.
If the specified period of (14) days has not passed, citizens and residents returning to Qatar will be subject to home quarantine for (7) days or until the remaining of the (14) days has passed, whichever is shorter.
According to the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) website some people, coming from countries which are not in the green list, are allowed exemption from hotel quarantine, provided they belong to one of the groups specified by the ministry.
The following groups of citizens and residents returning to Qatar from countries not included on COVID-19 Green List (low-risk countries) are exempted from the hotel quarantine, and will be subject to home quarantine:
The following groups of citizens and residents returning to Qatar from countries not included on COVID-19 Green List (low-risk countries) are exempted from the hotel quarantine, and will be subject to home quarantine:
1) Minors under the age of 18 who have not received the COVID-19 vaccine, who return from alone or with their parents, will be subject to home quarantine for (7) days, provided that both parents have received the COVID-19 vaccine. However, this exemption does not include cases where one parent has not received the vaccine, and therefore should be subject to hotel quarantine. Only members of the family who meet the vaccination requirements may choose home quarantine if they wish.
2) People who have received the second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine in Qatar and have not completed the specified period of (14) days from the date of the second dose are subject to home quarantine for (7) days or until they complete the duration of (14) days following the second dose, whichever is convenient.
3) Those who have received the COVID-19 vaccination outside Qatar, provided they meet the criteria for quarantine exemption.
4) People aged 75 years or above, including one escort only who share the same national address, provided that the escort had received the second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.
5) Pregnant women returning to the country with their husbands or a relative living with them in the same residence who received the second dose of COVID-19 vaccine.
6) Breastfeeding mothers and their infants (up to 2 years of age) returning to the country with their husbands or a relative living with them in the same residence who received the second dose of COVID-19 vaccine.
7) Patients sent for treatment abroad by the Ministry of Public Health according to their health condition, including one escort only living with them in the same residence, provided that the escort had received the second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.
The above-mentioned groups must sign an undertaking demonstrating their compliance with the home quarantine procedures. For minors under the age of 18, their guardian or a representative shall sign an undertaking demonstrating the minor’s compliance with home quarantine regulations.
Returning travelers must also take a COVID-19 PCR test at one of the centers approved by the Ministry of Public Health around the world, or upon their arrival at any of the entry ports. Free-COVID-19 certificates obtained from accredited centers abroad should be valid for 48 hours before travel and up to a maximum of 72 hours upon arrival in the country. If the test result is positive after arrival, the health quarantine procedures applicable in Qatar will be enforced.
Several new measures have been taken to improve the entry and waiting process for patients wanting to get vaccinated against COVID-19 at the National Vaccination Center, which is located at the Qatar National Convention Centre (QNCC).
Ministry announces procedures for organizing the Umrah pilgrimage for Qataris, citizens of GCC countries and residents.
April 8:
April 9:
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April 23:
News out of India is grim. The country has now registered the highest daily total of new infections of any country in the world during any phase of the pandemic -- 315,000. Scientists have identified 771 variants, with one possibly circumventing currently available vaccines. Countries are banning flights to and from India as they try to prevent the spread of this dangerous variant know as B1617. At one point this winter, some people assumed India had reached herd immunity in its major metropolitan areas because of widespread infections during earlier waves of the pandemic. People and the government got complacent by allowing mass gatherings at weddings, political events, religious festivals, and travel. These super-spreader events hove now proved deadly.
April 24:
Good news: Both the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines will effectively prevent serious illness and death from the UK, South African, and New York variants, two independent studies suggest.
Herd Immunity?: In the pandemic’s early days, Dr. Fauci tended to cite the same 60 to 70 percent estimate that most experts did. About a month ago, he began saying “70, 75 percent” in television interviews. And last week, in an interview with CNBC News, he said “75, 80, 85 percent” and “75 to 80-plus percent.” In a telephone interview the next day, Dr. Fauci acknowledged that he had slowly but deliberately been moving the goal posts. He is doing so, he said, partly based on new science, and partly on his gut feeling that the country is finally ready to hear what he really thinks. Hard as it may be to hear, he said, he believes that it may take close to 90 percent immunity to bring the virus to a halt — almost as much as is needed to stop a measles outbreak.
Bad news: The health effects of Covid-19 not only can stretch for months but appear to increase the risk of death and chronic medical conditions, even in people who were never sick enough to be hospitalized, a large new study finds. In the study, published Thursday in the journal Nature, researchers looked at medical records of more than 73,000 people across the United States whose coronavirus infections did not require hospitalization. Between one and six months after becoming infected, those patients had a significantly greater risk of death — 60 percent higher — than people who had not been infected with the virus. The research, based on records of patients in the Department of Veterans Affairs health system, also found that nonhospitalized Covid survivors had a 20 percent greater chance of needing outpatient medical care over those six months than people who had not contracted the coronavirus. The Covid survivors experienced a vast array of long-term medical problems that they had never had before — not just lung issues from the respiratory effects of the virus, but symptoms that could affect virtually any organ system or part of the body, from neurological to cardiovascular to gastrointestinal. They were also at greater risk of mental health problems, including anxiety and sleep disorders.
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