HMC experts urge caution against Covid-19, promote booster shot

In a video released Friday by the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) on its social media channels, Dr Ahmed Mohammed, acting chairman of HMC’s Intensive Care Units, explained that bed capacity was expanded to accommodate the increasing numbers of Covid-19 cases. "We opened additional facilities for this reason. In the last week or 10 days we admitted around 250 cases of Covid-19 in various facilities. "We have now assigned the Communicable Disease Center, Hazm Mebaireek General Hospital and The Cuban Hospital in Dukhan to be the primary sites for admission of Covid-19 cases and we have been able to accommodate all cases so far without any bed shortage."However because of the increasing number of cases and we are probably getting into a new wave, more of the facilities may be included for this service at a later stage, including Mesaieed Hospital and Ras Laffan Hospital possibly and may be others as well."So with this mind we would urge everybody to avoid mixing with sick people, make sure they wear masks, clean their hands regularly, avoid crowded situations and keep physical distancing from others."These measures can may be help reduce the number of infections in the community and the number of cases to be admitted to hospital," urged Dr Mohammed.In another video, Dr Ahmed Zaqout, associate consultant for Infectious Diseases at the Communicable Disease Center highlights the recent increase in Covid-19 cases in Qatar and urges eligible people to get their booster vaccine dose."In the past two months we have seen a significant increase in the number of new cases of Covid-19. And in the last week, the new cases in the community has been rising rapidly. Like in many countries around the world this increase is driven by the emergence of the Omicron variant."It is clear now we are in another wave of the virus and expect the number of cases to continue to rise in the coming few weeks. Omicron is highly transmissible, three to six times more contagious than the Delta variant. For this reason, it is more important than ever for everyone of us to play our part in the ongoing fight against the pandemic."This new wave is likely to cause a significant increase in cases and hospitalisation over the next few weeks but our action can help to suppress the extent of this wave."I cannot overstate the importance of all eligible people getting their booster vaccine doses as they become eligible. And with the highly transmissible nature of this Omicron variant, it is more important than ever to wear the mask as recommended, maintain social distancing and wash hands regularly," Dr Zaqout added.