Senior health officials said that 25 suspected cases of coronavirus were detected in Qatar of which 23 reports have been ruled out as negative while lab tests of two are still pending.
Dr. Abdullatif Al Khal, Chairman of Pandemic Preparedness Committee/Head of Infectious Disease, Hamad Medical Corporation said this while addressing a press conference. He added that the two suspected cases were reported only yesterday. “Two cases are under the screening process and we hope to get the results by today,” he said.
The suspected cases include Qatari and non-Qatari who have traveled to China recently, said Dr. Khalid Hamid Elawad, Health Protection Manager at Primary Health Care Corporation. The residents had presented themselves at the health centers with symptoms.
Officials at the joint press conference also emphasized that staff at healthcare facilities have been educated to detect any suspected cases.
They also said that laboratory facilities and the Communicable Diseases Centre operate 24×7, including weekends, and any suspected case of the new coronavirus will be immediately isolated and tests will be conducted.
The officials reaffirmed today that Qatar remains safe from the novel coronavirus and all required preventive measures have been taken under the umbrella of the Ministry of Public Health.
Source: The Peninsula
