*Lifting curbs gradually does not mean Covid-19 has disappeared
*Failure to take preventive measures will lead to return of virus


The Ministry of Public Health reported on Tuesday 1,721 confirmed new cases of coronavirus (Covid-19), with 1,634 new recoveries and five deaths in the last 24 hours, bringing the total number of recoveries in Qatar to 47,569.

The ministry also announced that over the last 24 hours 16 new cases had been admitted to intensive care due to the virus, bringing the total number of cases currently in intensive care to 236.

The ministry added that there has been a small decrease in the number of acute Covid-19 positive patients being admitted to intensive care thanks to the measures taken by the ministry and the authorities concerned to limit the spread of the virus, the most important of which is the early detection of the virus which can contribute significantly to reducing the severity of infection.

The ministry said that the new cases are expatriate workers who came into contact with infected individuals, in addition to recording new cases of infection among groups of workers in different regions.



The new cases have been identified through the ministry's track and trace team.

Cases of infection have also increased significantly among citizens and residents as a result of contact with infected family members who had been infected in the workplace or through visits and family gatherings.

The new confirmed cases of infection have been introduced to complete isolation in the various medical facilities in the country, where they receive the necessary healthcare according to the health status of each case.

The ministry said that the five people who died in the last 24 hours were aged 65, 78 , 80, 74 and 53, adding that all of them received medical support in intensive care.

The ministry confirmed that efforts to tackle the virus in the country have succeeded in flattening the curve and reducing the impact of the epidemic by a large percentage thanks to preventive measures, awareness and co-operation of all members of society, and that the number of new registered cases and hospital admissions has decreased.

The health ministry has now started to overcome the peak phase of the virus outbreak, with the beginning of its decline, thanks to the measures taken by the state to address it, and the commitment of the community members to recommendations and preventive measures, the most important of which is social distancing, maintaining physical distancing, staying at home, not going out except when necessary and using face masks.

Anyone who has symptoms of Covid-19 should either quickly contact the 16000 helpline or go directly to one of the designated health centres for testing.

This is important as the earlier the disease is detected the easier it will be to receive the right treatment and recover from it.

The main screening centres include Muaither Health Centre, Rawdat Al Khail Health Centre, Umm Slal Health Centre and Gharrafat Al Rayyan Health Centre.

The ministry has advised the elderly or those suffering from chronic diseases and their family members to follow strict methods and precautions to reduce the risk of infection and protect them from infection by refraining from social visits, wearing a mask and regularly washing or sanitising their hands.

The ministry said that, based on the extensive data and studies conducted by the authorities concerned in the country, Qatar will begin, starting next Monday, June 15, to lift the restrictions imposed to combat the epidemic gradually in four stages that will last until September 1.

It stressed the importance of taking preventive measures against Covid-19, as failure to do so during the next stage will lead to the return of the virus to the country. The ministry warned that lifting the restrictions gradually does not mean the disappearance of the virus.