All precautionary measures in place to confront coronavirus: MoPH
Qatar is doing everything within its capacity to prevent the coronavirus from entering the country.
The Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) has confirmed, “no case of the new coronavirus infection has been registered in Qatar.”
Coronavirus, a new respiratory infection with pneumonia-like symptoms, first emerged in the Chinese city of Wuhan and spread to other cities has killed 41 people and infected at least 1,287 in the Asian country, Al Jazeera has reported.
Although the World Health Organization (WHO) has not declared the outbreak of the virus as a global health emergency, “it may yet become one,” WHO’s chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said.
Qatar joins the rest of the world health authorities to take safety measures in blocking the spread of the disease.
The National Pandemic Preparedness Committee comprising representatives of the health ministry, Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC), Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC), Hamad International Airport (HIA) and Qatar Airways Medical Services met earlier this week seeking to implement a joint co-ordination mechanism in this regard.
The Ministry of Public Health announced that it will continuously monitor the epidemiological situation and take precautionary measures to confront the new coronavirus, which has been reported in the Republic of China, then to several countries.https://t.co/BtH0G9svym pic.twitter.com/9sH2as88EK
— مؤسسة حمد الطبية (@HMC_Qatar) January 23, 2020
Accordingly, the Ministry together with HIA and Qatar Airways has begun thermal screening of all passengers flying into Qatar from China.
About 10 advanced thermal cameras have been planted at the airport that can remotely record the body temperature of each traveler from China.
“The inspection does not take more than 20 minutes for all passengers on a plane, without delaying them or disrupting work (at the airport),” said Dr Hamad Al Rumaihi, Director of Health Protection and Communicable Disease Control at the Public Health Department and co-chair of the National Epidemic Preparation Committee.
The official added that as many as 2000 passengers from China have been examined this way
“The inspection does not take more than 20 minutes for all passengers on a plane, without delaying them or disrupting work (at the airport),” observed Dr Al Rumaihi.
A team of health experts including doctors, nurses, and emergency staff is available on site to supervise the scanning process. In case of a suspected case, the individual will be dealt with at a medical clinic set up within the airport.
In addition to the screening protocol upon arrival at HIA, the concerned authorities are also running in-flight awareness campaigns for those coming to Qatar from China.
“Passengers are urged to inform the flight crew if they have any symptoms of the disease, such as high temperature, coughing and difficulty breathing, or to report to the clinic in HIA immediately upon arrival,” Qatar News Agency reported.
Travelers coming from China are also advised to keep a close eye on the appearance of any similar symptoms for at least 14 days as this is the time during which the illness can begin to show.
Moreover, Qatari authorities including the Ministry of Public Health and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have advised citizens and residents of Qatar to avoid unnecessary travel to the Chinese cities affected by the coronavirus.
They further advised to “avoid close contact with animals in the infected areas or the persons who show any of the related symptoms and wash hands at regular intervals with soap and water.
In case of any related reports, the public can contact the relevant team at the 24/7 hotlines: 66740951 or 66740948.
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How about food imports from china !!!