Hand hygiene, including regularly washing hands with soap and water as well as practising safe social greetings, is still an essential part of the fight against the spread of the coronavirus (Covid-19), according to an expert from Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC).
Dr Jameela al-Ajmi, senior consultant (infectious diseases) and executive director at HMC Infection Prevention and Control, said everyone still needs to take key protective measures to prevent the spread of the virus.
“Thanks to the overwhelming support of the community in following the Covid-19 precautionary measures and their uptake of the Covid-19 vaccine, the number of new daily Covid-19 cases in Qatar has remained stable in recent months,” she said. “However, with the Delta variant present in Qatar, like most countries around the world, it is still extremely important that people continue to adhere to precautionary measures – this importantly includes practising hand hygiene and safe social greetings.”
Dr al-Ajmi said that hands and physical contact are critical ways that germs and viruses can be easily transmitted.
"Our fight against Covid-19 has demonstrated the importance of hand hygiene as one of the simplest and most effective ways to prevent the spread of viruses,” she said. “Clean hands can stop germs from spreading from one person to another and throughout an entire community – from your home and workplace to schools and hospitals.”
“This includes hand washing with soap, using hand sanitisers, and reducing the need to touch surfaces where possible. If you are unable to access soap and water, use hand sanitisers,” Dr al-Ajmi said. “Also, avoiding physical contact, including not shaking hands or kissing when greeting another person, is an important measure we can all take to keep us all safe.”
In addition to getting vaccinated, people should adhere to measures to reduce their chances of catching Covid-19, such as:
* Keeping a safe distance from people
* Avoiding physical contact, including greeting people by shaking hands and kissing
* Using your sleeve to cover your nose and mouth when coughing and sneezing or using tissue paper and disposing of it appropriately
* Wearing a face mask in public
For more information about Covid-19, one can go to https://covid19.moph.gov.qa/
“Thanks to the overwhelming support of the community in following the Covid-19 precautionary measures and their uptake of the Covid-19 vaccine, the number of new daily Covid-19 cases in Qatar has remained stable in recent months,” she said. “However, with the Delta variant present in Qatar, like most countries around the world, it is still extremely important that people continue to adhere to precautionary measures – this importantly includes practising hand hygiene and safe social greetings.”
Dr al-Ajmi said that hands and physical contact are critical ways that germs and viruses can be easily transmitted.
"Our fight against Covid-19 has demonstrated the importance of hand hygiene as one of the simplest and most effective ways to prevent the spread of viruses,” she said. “Clean hands can stop germs from spreading from one person to another and throughout an entire community – from your home and workplace to schools and hospitals.”
“This includes hand washing with soap, using hand sanitisers, and reducing the need to touch surfaces where possible. If you are unable to access soap and water, use hand sanitisers,” Dr al-Ajmi said. “Also, avoiding physical contact, including not shaking hands or kissing when greeting another person, is an important measure we can all take to keep us all safe.”
In addition to getting vaccinated, people should adhere to measures to reduce their chances of catching Covid-19, such as:
* Keeping a safe distance from people
* Avoiding physical contact, including greeting people by shaking hands and kissing
* Using your sleeve to cover your nose and mouth when coughing and sneezing or using tissue paper and disposing of it appropriately
* Wearing a face mask in public
For more information about Covid-19, one can go to https://covid19.moph.gov.qa/