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Tribune News Network
Doha
Quarantine is mandatory for all travellers returning to Qatar, the Supreme Committee for Crisis Management announced on Thursday even as it affirmed that the fourth phase of lifting COVID-19 restrictions would continue.
“As the spread of the pandemic around the world is on the rise, it is necessary to apply mandatory quarantine to all travellers returning to Qatar until further notice, with the Ministry of Public Health continuing to update the list of low-risk countries,” the committee said in a statement on Thursday.Although Qatar has flattened the COVID-19 curve and active cases are dwindling day by day, the Supreme Committee reaffirmed the need for the public to be careful to prevent resurgence in infection.
It said Qatar was ready with a three-phase plan to re-impose certain COVID-19 restrictions, if the Ministry of Public Health deems them necessary.
“In this context, we note that the main contributing factor for limiting the spread of the virus is people’s awareness and their commitment to following precautionary measures, especially relating to gatherings and social events, as it has recently become evident that socialising without proper caution is the main source of spreading COVID-19 in the country,” the statement said.
Several countries around the world have already entered the second wave of coronavirus and this could occur in Qatar as well if people do not take precautionary measures seriously, the committee warned.
The Supreme Committee for Crisis Management called on all citizens and residents to commit to following the precautionary measures, including wearing masks, maintaining a safe distance and washing hands.
“The spread of the COVID-19 pandemic around the world and in the State of Qatar has made it essential to enforce a number of measures on various levels to ensure the safety of citizens and residents and limit the spread of the virus.
“With our robust health system, the effectiveness of measures that have been taken, the cooperation of citizens and residents and their commitment to following the precautionary measures, the State of Qatar was able to move past the peak of the coronavirus and flatten the curve, while maintaining one of the lowest coronavirus death rates in the world.”
After getting past the virus’ peak, it became necessary to reach the required balance between preserving public health and returning to normal life, the committee said.
This process has been successful through implementing the four-phase plan of gradually lifting Coronavirus restrictions, it added.
“The Supreme Committee for Crisis Management would like to affirm the continuation of Phase Four, including the capacities that were recently announced, with relevant state authorities reviewing the indicators periodically. While the public health indicators show that the spread of the virus has been contained in the State of Qatar, this does not mean the pandemic has been reversed or that it has disappeared.
