The Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) announced that it will operate drive-through swabbing hubs at three health centres for two days, for a community-based survey on coronavirus.
This temporary drive-through swabbing hubs will be operated in collaboration with the Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC), Hamad Medical Corporation’s (HMC) Ambulance Service, laboratories and Qatar University.
“The aim of this exercise is to conduct a community survey and gain more insight into community transmission and asymptomatic cases, which will in turn inform policy decisions. These temporary drive through swabbing hubs are by referral-only. A group of 2,500 members of the public will be involved in a unique study that will allow a better understanding of the flow of the virus in the community and adapt responses to the scientific findings,” said MOPH on social media accounts.
The ministry has also clarified that participants of the test will be randomly selected based on age, gender and ethnicity and participation is entirely voluntary.
The drive through coronavirus survey and testing will be conducted at the Al Thumama, Al Waab and Leabaib health centres on 6th May 2020 and 7th May 2020 from 2 pm to 10 pm. A text message invitation will be sent by from PHCC and the person will have to do online registration, and then can arrive at the designated health centre by their own car. At the testing health centre, the person will be given a survey questionnaire and nose and throat swab test will be done. The results will be sent via text messages.
