MoPH confirms detection of deadlier UK variant of COVID-19 in Qatar
Qatar’s strict policy for returning travelers delayed the introduction of the new variants into the country for several months.
However, there are now positive cases in Qatar with the new variant known as B.1.1.7 (UK strain), said Dr. Abdullatif Al Khal, Chair of the National Health Strategic Group on COVID-19 and Head of Infectious Diseases at Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) during the press conference held tonight.
Other important points by Dr. Abdullatif Al Khal:
- We continue to see a significant number of new cases each day and everyday people are becoming sick due to the COVID-19 with many requiring admissions to hospitals to manage their symptoms and even admission into ICUs for life-saving treatment
- This new variant is much more contagious and spread more easily between people than the existing strain and may be associated with increased severity of the disease
- The good news is that the Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna vaccines being used in our vaccination program are effective against the new variants
- More than 380,000 COVID-19 vaccine doses were administered since the start of the COVID-19 National Vaccination Program, with more than 15,000 a day at present, and it is reassuring to know that no serious side effects have been reported
- We continue to monitor the risk of infection within schools and it is pleasing that with schools strictly enforcing the preventive measures, we are not seeing any spikes in infection caused by transmission within schools
- However, with government schools beginning their post-exam break, it is important that parents and children continue to follow the preventive measures throughout the break to prevent a rise in infections among children before returning to school classrooms in a few weeks
- The pace of the vaccination program means that there is finally hope of a gradual return to normal for us here in Qatar and people around the world. However, this will not happen in the next few weeks or months
- COVID-19 will continue to be a threat to our health for the majority of 2021 and until all eligible members of our population have been vaccinated, we must continue to follow the preventive measures
Due to the increase of COVID-19 cases in the first part of this year, Qatar is seeing significant increases in both hospital admissions and ICU admissions in recent weeks, said Dr. Ahmed Mohammad, Acting Chairman of HMC’s Intensive Care Units during the press conference.
He noted that more people are being admitted daily to hospitals and ICUs requiring life-saving treatment. Since February 1, there is a 110% increase in people receiving care in ICUs.
This is overly concerning as many of these people are severely sick, requiring intensive treatment and advanced respiratory support.
Other important points by Dr. Ahmed Mohammad:
- Despite the large increase in hospital and ICU admissions, the healthcare sector is able to care for each and every one of these patients
- At the start of the pandemic last year we had a plan to expand significantly expand bed capacity across our hospital system to meet increased demand due to COVID-19
- To meet the increased demand due to the recent rise in cases, we have once again developed a capacity expansion plan to ensure we have enough beds for people needing care
- It is important that people seek help early - as soon as they notice the signs and symptoms - as the earlier treatment can be given the better the chances of a full recovery
- The main COVID-19 symptoms are:
- A high temperature (fever)
- A new, continuous cough
- A loss or change to your sense of smell or taste.
- Anyone experiencing these signs should get a COVID-19 test as soon as possible
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Source: MoPH
Cover Image Credit: The Peninsula
