Author

In a major move that will strengthen environmental protection, the Ministry of Transport and Communications (MoTC) has adopted the policy of using higher grade and cleaner premium diesel fuel that meets the European emission standard Euro 5 specifications. MoTC tweeted that this will apply for imported trucks and buses starting with models manufactured for 2022. The plan, according to the tweet, is to implement the initiative in coordination with various bodies concerned including Qatar Petroleum (QP), the Qatar General Organisation for Standards and Metrology (QS) and the General Directorate of Traffic. “The major goals of the initiative include creating a cleaner, healthier and safer environment for current and coming generations while bringing down carbon emission by 17% by 2022 in a move to reduce greenhouse gases, combat climate change and maintain an economic-environmental balance,” the tweet said. The policy is adopted as part of the ongoing strategy to switch to eco-friendly electric vehicles in Qatar while upgrading the specifications of buses and trucks to conform to the clean Euro 5 diesel. MoTC said this will help achieve environmental sustainability by rolling out more of clean technologies, clean fuel and electrical energy to reduce vehicle exhausts and harmful carbon emissions. The Euro 5 specification provides best standards and modern technologies. The specification for carbon monoxide (CO) does not exceed 1.5% while Euro 2 diesel specification causes more pollution . With Euro 5 specification, maximum diesel sulfur content is 10 parts per million (ppm) and smoke opacity is 1.0-1.5 ppm while diesel sulfur content is as high as 500 ppm and smoke opacity is up to 0.46 ppm with Euro 2 specification. Currently, MoTC is working on the strategy for shifting to eco-friendly vehicles and encouraging the public to use the multimodal public transit system. Several strategic projects to develop the bus network and provide a fresh set of special routes and services along with initiatives to provide the necessary infrastructure and relevant logistic services are being implemented by the MoTC. Among these, are building eight bus stations and four bus depots and various parking spaces for vehicles and buses, establishing 2700 bus stops and setting up stations and parking spaces for water taxis. These projects are implemented in collaboration with the Public Works Authority (Ashghal). The Qatar General Electricity and Water Corporation (Kahramaa), in coordination with MoTC, has developed a strategy for electric and hybrid vehicles for Qatar in order to secure the country's needs of clean energy permanently and regularly. This is in addition to identifying the alternatives to secure it and thus help the country achieve Qatar's second National Development Strategy (2018- 2022) and Qatar National Vision 2030.    

With Phase 1 of the gradual lifting of Covid-19 restrictions beginning tomorrow, a Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI) official has stressed the need for both workers and customers to be vaccinated to be allowed at indoor commercial establishments such as restaurants, barbershops, etc. They should have completed 14 days after the second dose, Ayed al-Qahtani, director of the commercial registration and licensing department at the MoCI, told Qatar TV yesterday. This is not to give vaccinated people any advantage but to successfully complete the first stage and ensure that there will be no new cases. He said barbershops, salons and gyms will be allowed to operate from tomorrow subject to certain conditions, as the first phase of lifting restrictions targets vital sectors that concern citizens and residents. He said this is based on a study to resume work and expand key commercial and entertainment activities. “We urge owners of restaurants in commercial complexes to ensure that all their workers are vaccinated, especially in closed spaces,” he said. The official urged business establishments and stores to follow the Covid-19 restrictions during the first phase of easing of restrictions, stressing that the ministry will make sure that the rules are complied with. He added that intensive campaigns will be carried out at commercial establishments to look for violations and offenders will face serious actions. “The goal is not punishment but to proceed to the second stage,” he said.  “If the occupancy level is found at 50%, for example, the owner of a restaurant or cafe will be notified and alerted that he has exceeded the stipulated 30%. If he responds to us, we will not close the place. If he fails to respond, legal action or closure will be initiated. We are looking to co-operate with the shop owners,” al-Qahtani said. The MoCI official urged the owners of establishments and stores to strictly follow the stipulated measures during the first phase of lifting restrictions. “We will ensure that we will go to the other stages and I think the public understands the situation,” he explained, urging the public to co-operate with the MoCI and give information on any failure to follow the restrictions and apply precautionary measures.   MoI to continue efforts to ensure rules are followed Lieutenant-Colonel Masoud al-Qahtani, head of the Ehteraz Unit at the National Command Centre, has stressed that the Ministry of Interior (MoI) will continue to make the necessary efforts to ensure that the rules are followed during the easing of Covid-19 restrictions. He said the ministry will continue to work with other competent authorities round-the-clock to prevent the spread of Covid-19 in Qatar.

Qatar residents celebrated Eid al-Fitr Thursday abiding by the preventive and precautionary measures against the spread of Covid-19. They had a cheerful day with the authorities concerned opening the doors of mosques and prayer grounds for special Eid prayers. “Restrictions often leave us staying inside the home, but this Eid was different and the day started with joy early morning," said Badrudheen Thotty Abdulrahman. The resident of Al Wakra said it was good to have most of the mosques opened as it helped the faithful to easily find a place where they could participate in prayers and listen to the Eid sermon. The Ministry of Endowments (Awqaf) and Islamic Affairs made arrangements in 1,028 mosques and prayer grounds in various regions of the country to receive worshippers for the Eid al-Fitr prayers, which started at 5.05am while maintaining the Covid-19 precautionary measures. Last year, mosques and prayer grounds remained closed during Eid-al-Fitr while the Mosques Management Department at the Ministry readied only 401 mosques and prayer grounds for the Eid al-Adha prayer. “The number of opened mosques and prayer grounds doubled this year while precautionary measures were strictly followed," said Rayees Ali, who performed his prayer at Al Aziziya prayer ground. Awqaf and the Ministry of Municipality and Environment (MME) made arrangements to ensure the convenience and safety of the faithful at mosques and prayer grounds where MME's Public Cleaning Department carried out cleanliness campaigns. Special teams with the latest equipment and machinery cleaned the prayer grounds across the country and prepared them to receive the worshippers. The Qatar Red Crescent Society (QRCS) deployed volunteers at mosques and prayer grounds in order to maintain safety and ensure the smooth conduct of the prayers. "People were very co-operative," Abdulrahman said. Rayees noted that Eid came as a relief even though restrictions are in place. Meanwhile, residents abstained from holding usual family visits and tours taking note of the directions. “The usual meets were held virtual. Organisations opted for virtual meets and cultural programmes were not held," the Kerala Muslim Cultural Centre (KMCC) Kerala state committee secretary said. KMCC, like other organisations, had a special virtual Eid meet on Thursday. “Earlier, we used to meet in the office and hold household visits. But, this Eid had the routines going virtual," he added. PICTURES: Jayan Orma and Shaji Kayamkulam.    

With the mosques and prayer grounds set to host the Eid al-Fitr prayers, the Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs (Awqaf) and the Ministry of Municipality and Environment (MME) are busy making final arrangements to ensure the convenience and safety of the faithful. The MME, represented by its Public Cleaning Department, has been carrying out campaigns across the country to clean the prayer grounds in preparation for the Eid al-Fitr prayers, an official statement said. Special teams with the latest equipment and machinery cleaned the prayer grounds across the country and prepared them to receive the worshippers. The cleanliness drives covered municipalities of Doha, Al Khor and Al Thakhira, Al Shamal, Al Wakra, Al Daayen, Al Sheehaniya, Umm Salal and Al Rayyan. The Qatar Red Crescent Society (QRCS) will deploy volunteers at mosques and prayer grounds in order to maintain safety and ensure the smooth conduct of the prayers. A total of 1,028 mosques and prayer grounds will be available for prayer in Qatar. Awqaf has published the names and location on its Twitter handle. The Eid al-Fitr prayer will start at 5.05am. No children and women are allowed. Awqaf has announced a set of precautionary measures to prevent the spread of Covid-19. An advisory asked the faithful to wear masks as long as they are at the mosque or prayer ground. Mats should be brought. The prayer should be carried by keeping a distance of 1.5m between everyone. Ehteraz with green code should be shown. Believes should co-operate with competent authorities and do not shake hands. Do not crowd around the doors of the mosques," the advisory said. Mosques and prayer grounds will be available at various areas including Ezgava, Umm Saneem, Al Salata Al Jadeeda, Umm Salal Ali, Umm Salal Mohamed, Umm Ghuwailina, Umm Qarn, Umm Lekhba, Bin Omran, Bin Mahmoud, Bu Sidra, Al Thumama, Al Jumailiya, Al Kharaitiyat, Al Jeryan, Al Huwaila, Al Kharrara, Al Khalidiya, Al Kharsaah, Al Kheesa, Al Dafna, Al Doha Al Jadeed, Al Thakira, Al Soudan, Al Sailiya, Al Sheehaniya, Al Ebb, The Pearl, Al Murra, Al Messila, Al Mirqab Al Jadeed, Al Meshaf, Al Mamoura, Industrial Area, Al Najada, Al Hilal, Al Wajba, Umm Ghuwailina, Al Khor, Al Duhail, Al Rayyan Al Jadeed, Al Rayyan Al Qadeem, Al Sadd, Simaisma, Al Sailiya, Al Sheehaniya, Al Shamal, Al Azeeziya, Bani Hajer, Bu Samra, Bu Sidra, Dukhan, Raas Lafan, Rawdat Al Hamama, Rawdat Al Khail, Rawdat Al Fars, Rawdat Aba Al Heeran, Semaisma, Onaiza, Fereej Al Nasr, Fereej bin Dirham, Fereej Al Manaseer, Fereej bin Omran, Fereej bin Mahmood, Fereej Abdul Aziz, Leibeib, Legataifiya, Meraikh, Mesaieed, Messaimeer, Msheirib, Nuaija, Wadi Al Sail, Ain Kahled, Al Ghanem Al Jadeed, Al Gharrafa, Fereej bin Omar, Al Luqta, Madinat Al Shamal, Madina Khalifa South, Madina Khalifa North, Al Matar Qadeem, Hamad International Airport, Al Mamoura, Muaither South, Muaither North, Al Najma, Al Wakra and Al Wukair. The MME has urged everyone to co-operate with the Operations and Follow-up Team at the Cleanliness Department in keeping the public places clean during Eid holidays and to not throw waste randomly. To report any issue or complaint MME's call centre at 184 could be contacted.    

More than 1,000 mosques and prayer grounds across the country will host Eid-al-Fitr prayers, the Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs (Awqaf) announced. Also, no place is available for women, and children aged below 12 years at mosques and prayer grounds. Awqaf published the list of the mosques and prayer grounds on its social media accounts and asked the believers to follow the safety measures. Name, number and location of the 1,026 mosques and prayer grounds are available on the Twitter handle of the ministry https://t.co/3k5s8quKuU?amp=1. Eid prayer will start at 5.05am. The ministry has informed that social distancing will be applicable and urged the faithful to follow all precautions and safety measures announced in the last phase of reopening. As per the advisory, worshippers should not shake hands even with gloves on. They should cover the mouth and nose while sneezing, wear face masks and do ablution at home as the bathrooms and ablution place of the mosques will remain closed. The ministry has urged the faithful not to go to the mosques early as they will be opened only with prayer calls. The believers should maintain a distance of two meters from each other and should not crowd inside the mosque. The mosques will be reopened at various areas including Ezgava, Umm Saneem, Al Salata Al Jadeeda, Umm Salal Ali, Umm Salal Mohamed, Umm Ghuwailina, Umm Qarn, Umm Lekhba, Bin Omran, Bin Mahmoud, Bu Sidra, Al Thumama, Al Jumailiya, Al Kharaitiyat, Al Jeryan, Al Huwaila, Al Kharrara, Al Khalidiya, Al Kharsaah, Al Kheesa, Al Dafna, Al Doha Al Jadeed, Al Thakira, Al Soudan, Al Sailiya, Al Sheehaniya, Al Ebb, The Pearl, Al Murra, Al Messila, Al Mirqab Al Jadeed, Al Meshaf, Al Mamoura, Industrial Area, Al Najada, Al Hilal, Al Wajba, Umm Ghuwailina, Al Khor, Al Duhail, Al Rayyan Al Jadeed, Al Rayyan Al Qadeem, Al Sadd, Simaisma, Al Sailiya, Al Sheehaniya, Al Shamal, Al Azeeziya, Bani Hajer, Bu Samra, Bu Sidra, Dukhan, Raas Lafan, Rawdat Al Hamama, Rawdat Al Khail, Rawdat Al Fars, Rawdat Aba Al Heeran, Semaisma, Onaiza, Fereej Al Nasr, Fereej bin Dirham, Fereej Al Manaseer, Fereej bin Omran, Fereej bin Mahmood, Fereej Abdul Aziz, Leibeib, Legataifiya, Meraikh, Mesaieed, Messaimeer, Msheirib, Nuaija, Wadi Al Sail, Ain Kahled, Al Ghanem Al Jadeed, Al Gharrafa, Fereej bin Omar, Al Luqta, Madinat Al Shamal, Madina Khalifa South, Madina Khalifa North, Al Matar Qadeem, Hamad International Airport, Al Mamoura, Muaither South, Muaither North, Al Najma, Al Wakra and Al Wukair.    

The bus depots at Lusail, Al Wakra, Al Soudan, Education City, and Industrial Area will be completed in the third quarter of 2021. The Ministry of Transport and Communications (MoTC) tweeted that 68% of the works of these stations have been completed with arrangements to bring a major facelift to Qatar's public transportation sector. The works at Msheireb and Al Gharrafa have reached 31% and the two terminals will open during the first quarter of 2022. The bus depots are being set up as part of the Public Bus Infrastructure Programme that MoTC is carrying out in collaboration with Public Works Authority (Ashghal). The facilities are being designed in accordance with Global Sustainability Assessment System (GSAS), the first performance-based system in the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) region, developed for rating green buildings and infrastructures. The bus depots and stations have important design and operational considerations with three-star environmental quality for energy saving and environmental conservation. The new depots will include a bus care centre and bus parking spaces fully equipped with an infrastructure supportive of e-bus charging. They will also include residential and recreational facilities and mosques. The bus depot in Lusail will have parking canopies powered by highly-efficient solar panels, making it the first bus depot in the region to rely on solar energy as a renewable source of clean energy. The solar panels – totalling 10,720 units to generate four megawatts per day - plus the power station as a conventional source of energy, will provide the necessary energy for operating electric charging devices and the whole project at large, in line with highest standards and specifications. The Lusail bus depot will also include 217 units of 150kilowatt dual bus charging devices, five 300kilowatt fast bus electric charging devices and 474 bus parking spaces. The bus depots at Lusail, Al Rayyan, Industrial Area and Al Wakra extend from 129,000sq m to 190,000sq m in size, with an an average capacity of accommodating 25 vehicles each. Ashghal is also working on 2,700 air-conditioned bus stops on all major roads to serve thousands of passengers in many areas. These bus stops will allow passengers to wait inside in comfort and protect them from direct exposure to sunlight and humidity. In addition to bus depots, the the Public Bus Infrastructure Programme also includes the 'Park and Ride' parking spaces, bus stations and ferry (water taxi) terminals. Work to establish four new sites under the 'Park and Ride' project has been wrapped up, as part of the first package of the programme. Two of the sites at Al Qassar and Al Wakra were inaugurated for the public in January 2020. The other two at Lusail and Education City are nearing 100% completion and will be ready to open soon. The programme includes establishing a ferry terminal and parking spaces (water taxi) under the fourth package at Lusail, Doha Port, Hamad International Airport and the Pearl. It aims to achieve integration with the public transit systems countrywide and support transportation operations during the FIFA 2022 World Cup Qatar and beyond. Another objective is to increase public transit ridership by offering high-quality service and facilities with the world best technologies and specifications. The programme reflects MoTC’s keenness to implement the strategy of switching to clean energy in transportation to reduce carbon emissions of conventional vehicles and improve the overall air and climate quality in Qatar. Among key strategy objectives is supporting transit operations during FIFA 2022 to make Qatar second-to-none worldwide in using electric, eco-friendly vehicles during a FIFA championship, let alone integration with other public transit systems.    

While continuing its race towards achieving the goal in going green in the transportation sector, Qatar is set to adopt an electric vehicle charging strategy. National Programme for Conservation and Energy Efficiency (Tarsheed) president engineer Abdulaziz Ahmed al- Hammadi, explained that the strategy will be announced next month. Addressing a virtual press conference on Thursday, he pointed out that the Qatar General Electricity and Water Corporation (Kahramaa) is working with other authorities including the Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MoTC) and the Public Works Authority (Ashghal). The strategy includes setting up infrastructure needed for the electric vehicle charging project and specifications for electric chargers. "The most important features of this strategy are the identification of public places to set up the charging points," the official said. Kahramaa has plans to set up 200 to 500 charging points for electric cars across the country by 2022. The charging points will be at shopping malls, residential areas, stadiums, parks and government offices. Also, Kahramaa aims to produce 700MW from solar panels by 2022. In 2019, Kahramaa launched Tarsheed Photovoltaic Station for Energy Storage and Charging Electric Vehicles. The station functions as a charging point for vehicles with electricity produced from solar energy via 216 photovoltaic panels that are divided into two areas with a total area of 270 sq m. The entire area is equal to the row for 24 cars’ spaces. The total power produced from these panels is 72 KW peak. The station contains a unit that has two connections of Combo and CHAdeMO types that are compatible with different types of vehicles. The unit allows two cars to be charged at a time with a rapid charging level of 15 – 20 minutes. The maximum charging capacity is 100 kw. The station also contains a power storage unit in a battery with a capacity of 170 kw/h. The charging cord of 100 kw is enough to charge three cars. The surplus energy will be exported to the grid after charging the battery.    

The growing number of Covid-19 cases among children in Qatar is due to several reasons, particularly the spread of the new mutated strains of the virus and family visits, a senior health official has said. Dr Hamad al-Rumaihi, director of the Health Protection and Communicable Diseases Control Department at the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH), told Qatar TV Thursdaythat the cases could also be attributed to the fact that there is less adherence to the Covid-19 precautionary measures among children, especially maintaining a safe distance from others. Besides, he added, children (under 16) are not yet eligible to receive the Covid-19 vaccine. Meanwhile, Dr al-Rumaihi said a person receiving one dose of the vaccine outside Qatar will be quarantined once s/he returns to Doha and there will be no exemption. "So, we recommend they complete the vaccination and then come to Qatar," he said. “Every country has priorities in the vaccination programme. In Qatar, people who get one dose from abroad will be quarantined and not be exempted from quarantine," he said, adding: "If a person receives one dose abroad, it is possible for him/her to take the second dose in Qatar, but our current priority is for citizens and residents of the country." Regarding vaccination for those who have recovered from Covid-19 infection, Dr al-Rumaihi said such a person can take the vaccine even though s/he has immunity for at least three months. “The person can decide to get vaccination before the end of this period upon recovering from the infection and getting out of quarantine after two weeks. However, if this person has received plasma and was hospitalised, the vaccination should be postponed for three months," he said. "Under the current protocol, the person can take two doses of the vaccine," Dr al-Rumaihi added, responding to a query on whether a recovered patient is to be given one dose or both doses of the vaccine. He explained that some countries and studies say one dose is sufficient. “This is currently being studied," he said, noting that the current protocol provides for giving both the doses.    

No allowances will be deducted for teachers if their Covid-19 sick leave period is seven or 14 days, Ministry of Education and Higher Education's (MoEHE) undersecretary Dr Ibrahim bin Saleh al-Nuaimi said on Thursday. “The ministry considers it as exceptional sick leave. There will not be deductions during such leave for a week or 14 days or even more if the patient is hospitalised for a longer period," he told Qatar TV's Social Distance programme. Regarding the Cabinet decision to allow 50% of the employees to work from home, Dr al-Nuaimi explained that the MoEHE and other ministries have been given exemption as their nature of work requires the presence of more employees. "The 50% decision is applied in the ministry to many employees whose work does not require their presence in school buildings. We reduced the number of teaching hours to three per day and allowed teachers to focus on imparting excellent education for students without any additional burdens." More than 80% of the administrative and teaching cadres in schools have been vaccinated, the senior official said. Regarding the requirement of teachers to be present in schools, Dr al-Nuaimi stressed that the availability of technology, including smart boards in classrooms, is very important to complete the interactive teaching-learning process.    

The National Programme for Conservation and Energy Efficiency (Tarsheed) of the Qatar General Electricity and Water Corporation (Kahramaa) helped the country save about QR300mn in 2020 by reducing energy consumption by 289 gigawatt-hours (GWh) and water by 32mn cum. Also, Tarsheed succeeded in saving an estimated 3,207mn cu ft of gas and reducing 0.4mn tonne of carbon emission, as highlighted yesterday by Kahramaa at an online press conference in the presence of president Essa bin Hilal al-Kuwari and Tarsheed president Abdulaziz al-Hammadi. Al-Kuwari recalled that Tarsheed was established in line with diversification of energy sources and adoption of sustainability systems in accordance with the Qatar National Vision 2030 and the Second National Development Strategy 2018-2022. "Tarsheed’s efforts aim to efficiently and effectively manage the vital resources of Qatar,” he noted adding that the efforts continue to spread the culture and methods of energy efficiency. A number of important initiatives were implemented in 2020. These include the application of regulations and standards for the use of resources in various sectors and the initiative for energy efficiency standards for air-conditioners in addition to the introduction of the first project in Qatar for a photovoltaic station with a system energy storage for charging electric cars. The initiative to reduce electricity and water consumption in the residential sector by 5% was recently launched. Al-Hammadi noted that Tarsheed has accomplished technical and awareness initiatives and implemented many innovative solutions and projects. These include a number of infrastructure models for electric vehicle charging stations, including the first photovoltaic station project with the energy storage system in Qatar. “There is a programme in co-operation with the Ministry of Transport and Communications to launch the first electric passenger bus and its charging stations and to establish the strategic infrastructure for the charging stations in the country in a bid to encourage the use of environmentally friendly means of transport and contribute to a significant reduction in carbon emissions,” he said. Tarsheed's most recent initiative to reduce electricity and water consumption in the residential sector by 5% is closely related to the sustainability goals of Qatar and the 17 global strategic goals in accordance with the Paris Agreement signed by Qatar to reduce its carbon emission and combat climate change. Al-Hammadi urged all sections of the society to co-operate in order to achieve desired results through the initiative. ends...    

About 98.4% of the people who have received the Covid-19 vaccine have not been infected with the virus, a senior health official has said. Only about 1.5% of those vaccinated got infected either after the first or second dose, Dr Muna al-Maslamani, medical director of the Communicable Disease Center at Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC), told Qatar TV on Monday. This was observed by monitoring about 400,000 vaccinated people from the start of the vaccination programme until March 28, she said. Dr al-Maslamani said the Pfizer/BionTech and Moderna vaccines, according to the manufacturers, are effective against the new mutated strains from the UK and South Africa, but more studies are needed in this regard. Regarding the duration of the effectiveness of vaccines, she said preliminary study indicate that the effectiveness of vaccines in forming antibodies lasts for six months. "But I do not expect their effectiveness to stop after this period, because the companies are following up on vaccinated patients and conducting studies. We are awaiting the outcomes of these studies which will answer questions, including whether to extend the effectiveness of vaccines to one year or not, and if it is possible for Covid-19 to turn into a seasonal virus like seasonal influenza and thus require an annual vaccine," she added. She also called on people who have recovered from Covid-19 to donate plasma through the Communicable Disease Center to treat other coronavirus patients. “We face a shortage of plasma and are in need of donors, as acute cases in intensive care require plasma therapy, especially those who suffer from liver or kidney ailments," she added.

  *Act responsibly to reduce cases; we are still in the middle of the second wave of Covid-19: Dr al-Khal If everyone takes responsibility and acts appropriately over the next two to four weeks, Qatar can begin to see a decline in Covid-19 cases and consider easing of some of the restrictions, senior health official Dr Abdullatif al-Khal said Wednesday. "The announcement of new restrictions, just one week before the start of the Holy Month of Ramadan, will be difficult for many people, but as always, as individuals and as a community, we have the will and the power to suppress the spread of the virus like we did the first time," he told a press conference. The chair of the National Strategic Group on Covid-19 and head of the Infectious Diseases Division at Hamad Medical Corporation cautioned that "if we fail to play our part in following the restrictions and preventive measures, and cases continue to rise, we may need to escalate the restrictions further." Dr al-Khal assured that despite the rise in the number of people requiring hospital admission, the healthcare system has sufficient capacity to ensure everyone who needs medical care can receive it without delay. "Despite the strict quarantine policy in place for all travellers, the UK and South African strains have arrived in Qatar causing more severe symptoms than the original strain. "We believe the South Africa variant has had a significant impact on the rise of Covid-19 cases in the past 10 days. "During the past two weeks, we have seen a significant increase in the number of new daily Covid-19 cases and we have recorded more than 900 new cases each day over the past few days," he pointed out. "Of particular concern is the high number of people in intensive care. This figure is now significantly higher than at the peak of the first wave last year. Most of the cases are reported from professionals and due to social visits. "Hospital admissions are increasingly reported compared to the first wave and more deaths too during the last few days. There is a significant increase in the number of intensive care and hospital admission, due to the emergence of new strains. 'We are still in the middle of the second wave of the Covid-19 and not reached the peak of infections yet. The South African strain had a great impact on the increase in the number of cases of Covid-19 during the past 10 days. "During the past week, 1,468 new patients were admitted to the hospital due to the presence of severe inflammation in the lungs, and 266 cases were admitted to ICU. "Both Pfizer and Moderna vaccines have been proven effective against the South African and the UK strains. The rate of testing positive among those who have symptoms has increased to 30%. Among those in contact it has reached 11%. This is a high rate. Dr al-Khal also cited the achievement of one million doses of vaccination Wednesday. About 25,000 people are being vaccinated daily. A total of 26% of adults and 77% of people over 60 years have received the first dose. The senior official recalled that at the start of the year when the number of cases began to rise steadily, Qatar acted quickly to introduce further restrictions . "These restrictions proved effective at suppressing the spread of the virus for many weeks and the number of new daily infections remained steady. "However, the introduction of the UK variant into the community in March saw further increases in cases and notably hospitalisations and we responded with further restrictions. "The latest development in this pandemic of the circulation of the South African variant has meant we are once again moving quickly to further increase the restrictions," he added.

The Qatar General Electricity and Water Corporation (Kahramaa), represented by the National Programme for Conservation and Energy Efficiency (Tarsheed), on Wednesday launched its new initiative to reduce water and electricity consumption by 5% in the residential sector. Making the announcement, Tarsheed president engineer Abdulaziz al-Hammadi said the objective is to obtain the reduction in consumption by using practical and available solutions at the lowest possible cost. The initiative contributes to Qatar National Vision 2030 by raising awareness, endorsing rationalisation techniques and promoting responsible consumer behaviour with detailed follow-up techniques being implemented to provide customers with support and guarantee long-term results. The initiative will be implemented in 2021 and 2022 in four basic phases. It’s designed according to the consumption pattern and housing type for everyone who takes part. The first phase which involves introducing the initiative, its goals, expected results, and filling out the residential consumption questionnaire, will be carried from April 11, 2021 to May 20, 2021. To be run from May 20, 2021 to July 31, 2021, the second stage is to analyse the results of the questionnaires and launch an interactive platform on the Tarsheed page on the Kahramaa website to follow up on the participants on how to reduce 5% of the electricity and water consumption in every home. During the third phase, from August 1, 2021 to January 31, 2022, an interactive platform through an electronic application will be launched. This will provide a plan designed for each subscriber to achieve the efficiency of electricity and water use specifically in each house and according to the number of electrical appliances and the quality of water tools. The fourth phase will be run from February 1, 2022 to March 1, 2022 while evaluating the previous phases. Results of the initiative will be announced during this phase. "We expect that this initiative will achieve effective results in the case of saving electricity by 5%, which is estimated at about 600 gigawatts per hour. In the case of saving 5% of water it’s about 11mn cu m. This will help the country achieve savings estimated at about QR 212 mn,” al-Hammadi said. The questionnaire is available on Kahramaa’s website. Engineer Mohamed Khalid al-Sharshani, head of the technical section at Tarsheed, said intensified awareness campaigns will be carried out with the support of media and social media in order to yield best results.

* Number of participating schools reaches 56 The number of schools taking part in the Qatar Beautification and Our Kids Planting Trees campaign within the Plant Million Trees initiative has reached 56. According to the latest figures available with the Public Works Authority (Ashghal), the total number of planted trees has reached 367,386 with more than 800 students taking part in the initiative. The participants have planted trees at various parks, project sites and on building premises and streets. The campaign launched in September 2019 aims to afforest various areas while continuing until the end of 2021. According to Ashghal, the campaign has so far covered various localities within Doha along with places in Al Khor and Al Thakhira Municipality. Also, campaigns have been held so far in Al Sheehaniya, Al Rayyan, Al Nasraniyya and Al Wakra, while trees have been planted at Al Watiyyat Interchange within the Sabah Al Ahmad Corridor, 5/6 Park, Al Abraj Park, Al Ebb Park, Al Furousiya Street, Al Jamiaa Street Development Project, Al Karaana Lagoon, Qatar Foundation and Khalifa Street. The Supervisory Committee of Beautification of Roads and Public Places in Qatar is implementing the Qatar Beautification and Our Kids Planting Trees campaign. The committee works under the Ministry of Municipality and Environment, in co-ordination with several ministries and other entities such as the Ministry of Transport and Communications, Ministry of Culture and Sports, Qatar Museums, Qatar Rail, Private Engineering Office and others. The committee is responsible for five major tasks, including the construction of central public parks, provision of dedicated lanes for pedestrians and bicycles, development of the Doha Corniche and Central Doha and increasing afforestation and green areas. The committee’s work will enhance sustainability through minimising environmental pollution and reducing the emission of CO2 through reduced consumption of energy resources. It also focuses on the provision of more public transport options aiming at reduced use of private cars and improving lifestyle through clean and safe transportation. Further, it is intended to ensure a healthy environment within residential neighbourhoods and places of public gatherings through increased afforestation and landscaping, which will greatly help in reducing the temperature in cities. Ashghal has urged institutions, organisations and companies to take part in the initiative. They can register at https://survey123.arcgis.com/share/810bcdb629974cbe9bead086985e3a70?portalUrl=https://geodev.ashghal.gov.qa/devportal.  

Abdul Raoof Pallipparambil, a financial adviser passionate about social work, is making a difference in society by spreading awareness of government schemes in India and promoting financial literacy among Indian expatriates. Better known as Raoof Kondotty, he is a familiar face in discussions about welfare schemes offered by India's central and state governments. He has 400 seminars to his credit and also volunteers with various organisations to raise awareness and help the needy benefit from such schemes. These are in addition to regularly attending TV and radio programmes and writing for newspapers. Raoof is usually busy holding awareness seminars and discussions, preparing notes, sharing expert opinions and monitoring schemes meant for expatriates' welfare. “Expatriates in India often allege a raw deal from the authorities back home instead of benefiting from the existing schemes. I did an initial study in 2014-2015 and found that the utilisation rate of expatriate welfare funds was very poor. I found a lack of resource persons whom the needy could approach to get guidance while applying for government assistance. I then decided to intervene and various organisations helped me reach the expatriates while making them aware of the issue," Raoof said. He informed that the utilisation rate of funds offered through some schemes by the Kerala state government in India, for instance, reached 96% following intensive awareness campaigns. If a scheme is announced and the draft is prepared, Raoof volunteers to keep a close watch on the same and come up with suggestions. When the scheme is launched, he understands the mechanism of how to avail of it and prepares a note that is shared in seminars and through his social media accounts, where the messages are circulated among thousands. “Completing the application for assistance is quite simple," he said. But lack of awareness prevents people from doing so and this often leads to the wrong notion that accessing government schemes is a tough job, he added. Raoof attends several calls a day from early in the morning, talking to expatriates about the steps involved in making various applications or securing certificates. What he gets in return are 'thank you' calls or voice messages from people, noting that their requirements were fairly met. Raoof has a habit of carefully monitoring anything that is announced by the central and state governments in India for the welfare of the Indian diaspora. Sources in miniseries and government departments often help him obtain data related to various schemes. “I study the proposed bills and make my suggestions. Also, I listen to what transpires at the sessions of the Indian Parliament and state assemblies when discussions are held or issues are raised about expatriate welfare. Anything related to expat welfare enthuses me," he said. Raoof's passion for service was instilled in the 1980s when his father Ahmed Kutty wanted his children to help local residents fill up applications for ration cards and school admission. A schoolteacher at Thurakkal village in Malappuram district of Kerala, Raoof's father also worked as an Imam in a nearby mosque and as a teacher at a madrasa. “He wanted to make a change while helping people. I started to learn from him while I was 10 years old," he recalled. Raoof is also an expert on Qatar's labour law and has completed various online courses from the International Organisation for Migration, International Labour Organisation and World Bank. An expert on the Global Compact for Migration, he has actively pursued issues faced by air passengers and spread awareness about Customs rules and passenger compensations while giving inputs for government budgets on expatriate welfare. Participating in activities of organisations affiliated to the Indian embassy in Qatar, he has received several recognitions. These include Best Social Worker Award in the Indian community, a special appreciation award from the Non-Resident Keralites Affairs (Norka) department of the Kerala government, Best Social Worker Award in the Kerala community and Best Expat Welfare Activist award by the Global Educational Organisation. He is a member of Loka Kerala Sabha and the Indian Community Benevolent Forum sub-committee for insurance, a convener of the Norka helpline in Qatar, country head of Pravasi Legal Cell and organising secretary of the Gulf Air Passengers' Association.  

* Public advised on various security issues at MoI virtual awareness seminar The public is obliged to strictly adhere to the measures put in place by the authorities to prevent the spread of Covid-19, an official has said, stressing that violators will face action that includes fines and imprisonment. New Covid-19 restrictions, as announced by the Cabinet on Wednesday, come into effect today. Lt Mashari Abdul Rahman Jameel al-Shammari, search and investigation officer at the Criminal Investigation Department, made the observations while addressing a virtual awareness seminar organised by the Ministry of Interior (MoI)'s Public Relations Department on Thursday. The seminar on ‘Prevention is Better than Cure’ was organised as part of a series of awareness programmes for communities in Qatar. Representatives from various companies and communities attended it. Noting that security is a collective responsibility, Lt al-Shammari shared tips on how to secure vehicles and protect houses, complexes and personal belongings such as the QID and credit and debit cards. He also cautioned against falling victim to various kinds of cheating. “Don't leave the doors or windows of a vehicle open. Don't leave any valuables or sums of money inside a vehicle while it is parked in a public place,” he said, asking the public not to leave unoccupied vehicles running, even if it is for a short while, to prevent thefts. He also advised that attention be paid to every stranger who may come to work in the house or on the premises of a company, whether temporarily or permanently. "Be vigilant to the suspicious and unjustified behaviour of workers inside the company. Inform neighbours or relatives while leaving the home. Ensure that the entire home is secured, and if possible, by installing alarms and surveillance cameras,” he said. Lt al-Shammari said people dealing with bank transactions should be alert. "Keep cash and valuables in hard­-to-reach places inside the home or company premises and don’t neglect them,” he said, advising people to take receipts while purchasing valuables. He also said whoever is found in a drunken state and engaging in indecent acts on public roads will face imprisonment of six months and a fine not exceeding QR3,000, adding that the import, export, sale and promotion of alcohol will be penalised with a jail term of three years and a fine of up to QR10,000. He also cautioned the public against becoming a victim of people impersonating police officers. “You have to ask the person who claims to be a police officer to present his ID if he is not in a police uniform. If he refuses, ignore what he says and report the matter to 999,” he added. The public can contact the emergency number, 999, to report any suspected cases or make use of Metrash2 to register a complaint.    

Deals worth nearly QR390.6mn were signed by the Ministry of Interior (MoI) during Milipol Qatar 2021, Brigadier Saud al-Shafi, assistant director-general of the Logistics Directorate at the Ministry of Interior (MoI) and a member of the Milipol Qatar Committee announced yesterday as the three-day event held at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Centre came to a close. Addressing another press conference marking the conclusion of the event, Major-General Nasser bin Fahd al-Thani, chairman of the Milipol Qatar Committee, said the exhibition evoked a good response despite the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic.  The number of visitors reached 6,600 while 235 media outlets attended the event, he said.  The third day of the event saw the MoI sign agreements worth QR218,292,123.  Announcing the details of the deals, Brigadier al-Shafi said an agreement was signed with Abdullah Abdulghani & Bros Co for importing various kinds of vehicles for QR8,186,000, while another agreement was inked with Al Kouniyya Company worth QR50,302,165 for importing the materials of ID cards. The MoI also signed a deal with Fahed Trading and Contracting worth QR129,739,000 for importing 77 fire-fighting vehicles for the FIFA 2022 World Cup Qatar while the fourth agreement, worth QR20,064,958, was inked with Mannai Corporation for the design, import, fixing and extension of the Tetra system.  In addition, according to the deal, Mannai Corporation will import caravans and F5 business solutions and carry out maintenance for the ICCS sound system.  Besides these, various MoI departments signed deals worth QR10mn with different companies. Lieutenant-Colonel Nasser al-Otaibi, member of the Milipol Qatar Committee, was present alongside Brigadier al-Shafi at the press conference where the deals were announced. The MoI had on Tuesday signed three deals with Qatari companies worth QR172,287,817, taking the total value of deals signed during the event to QR390,579,940. The 13th edition of Milipol Qatar hosted 150 exhibitors from 17 countries, with 54% of them being new participants. Held under the patronage of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, the event was organised by the MoI in partnership with Paris-based international event organiser Comexposium and Civipol, the consulting and service company of the French Ministry of Interior. “This is a great achievement for us that we were able to organise this exhibition under the current circumstances,” Major-General al-Thani said.  The exhibition had a total of 150 exhibitors, including 73 from Qatar, with pavilions representing entities from the Middle East, South America, the US, UK, Scandinavia and other places in Europe. The show also featured five international pavilions from Brazil, France, the UK, US and Germany. Major-General al-Thani said the exhibition was attended by dignitaries from Qatar and friendly nations. The dignitaries to visit the event included His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz al-Thani and ministers of interior from Ukraine, Moldova, Pakistan, Lebanon and Iraq. “Apart from local ministers, several ministers, deputy ministers, police chiefs, undersecretaries, gendarmerie commanders and representatives of ministries from different countries visited Milipol Qatar 2021,” Major-General al-Thani added.  Milipol Events director Marie Lagrenee said the event was held against the backdrop of industry forecasts, which suggest the Middle East homeland security market will grow in value to be worth $19.7bn by 2022. She added the total value of deals that have been declared at Milipol Qatar during the past three days reached QR390.6mn.  Major-General al-Thani and Lagrenee thanked the visitors, exhibitors and sponsors for making the event a success. Also present at the concluding press conference was Brigadier al-Shafi.

Global co-operation is needed to overcome cybersecurity and privacy protection challenges, Mika Lauhde, vice-president of Cybersecurity and Privacy, Global Public Affairs at Huawei Technologies, has said. In an exclusive interview to Gulf Times on the sidelines of Milipol Qatar 2021, Mika said co-operation is key for the success of transformation and it can be achieved through partnerships between government, private enterprises and educational institutions. “Companies and government entities as well as individuals fall prey to cyber threats. People need to share information in secured ways. They rely upon governments that are accountable for providing them with security. The government can ensure security by sharing information and co-operating. A lot of co-operation is needed,” he said. The official hailed Milipol 2021, saying it contributes much to the global co-operation and sharing of ideas between companies and countries. “Society becomes increasingly dependent on the Internet and cybersecurity has become a matter of concern with new cybersecurity vulnerabilities emerging,” he noted. He said the Covid-19 pandemic has changed the world, stressing the need to further explore in order to exchange information and overcome the threat. “This pandemic is not the last and we have to find solutions by tapping the potential of technology. Technology has played a pivotal role in minimising the adversity of the pandemic. We need telecommunication to take care of the pandemic. Next time, we have to be much prepared,” Mika said, adding that Huawei could ensure connection between the people while they were isolated. He explained that healthcare needs connectivity to become further hi-tech. “In the future, medical prescription, consultation and surgeries will be done by making use of a reliable telecommunication system from far away. Telecommunication is enabling the future where pandemic and emergencies will be dealt with by using technology and telecommunication,” he said. Mika noted that 5G is a revolution that ensures a better system and develops a new ecosystem. It’s much more secure with speed, capacity and latency while addressing risks, making networks and information more secure and protecting users' privacy. Mika went on to say that Huawei is helping build a new ecosystem and this is achieved by helping stakeholders like healthcare providers, educational institutions and government entities. “We help local people and innovators by enabling them to do their job,” he said. “We are creating a new ecosystem and working with universities in Qatar,” he said, noting that Huawei has a long history of co-operation with Qatar while supporting private and public entities here to combat cyber threats. He said Milipol assumes significance as it ensures the sharing of ideas and experiences. “We are in need for international policies and joint efforts to overcome the threats and understanding about technologies is also needed,” he added.