* MoPH reports 156 new Covid-19 cases, 337 recoveries

 

New Covid-19 cases in Qatar dropped below 200 as the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) on Saturday reported 156 new confirmed cases, 98 of which were from the community and 58 travellers returning from abroad.

The MoPH also recorded 337 recoveries from the virus during the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of recoveries in Qatar to 212,716, Qatar News Agency reported. Two new deaths were recorded, aged 53 and 56, one of them has chronic disease, and both received the necessary medical care.

 

Vaccination data

— 2,491,638 Covid-19 vaccine doses have been administered since the start of the program.

— 15,801 Covid-19 vaccine doses have been administered in the past 24 hours.

— 62.8 % of the eligible population has now received at least one dose of the vaccine.

— 91.5 % of over 60s (the most vulnerable population group) have been vaccinated with at least one dose, while 85.5 % have received both doses.

 

In recent weeks the combined impact of Covid-19 restrictions and increasing vaccination rates, and the overwhelming support of the community, has resulted in a consistent reduction in the number of new daily infections in the country. However, it is still important to be cautious as the second wave is not yet over and there are still two highly contagious and highly virulent strains of the virus that are actively circulating in the community.

It is vital that people do not claim victory against this virus too early with the new, highly-transmissible variants in the community, there is still the potential for the virus to gain momentum and for numbers to rise. With Covid-19 still a threat to our health in Qatar, it is important for everyone to play their role in controlling the virus by following precautionary measures:

— Adherence to physical distancing.

— Avoiding close contact with others, crowded places and confined closed spaces where other people congregate.

— Wearing a face mask.

— Washing hands regularly.

— Anyone suffering from Covid-19 symptoms should contact 16000 helpline immediately.

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

One may visit the MoPH website for regular updates and new information.