Is Qatar Dealing With the COVID-19 Pandemic Differently?
By: Yasmina Hage/Arab Amerira Contributing Writer
Unfortunately, COVID-19 has wreaked havoc on its way through many countries in the Arab World. Qatar had its first case of COVID-19 on February 27, 2020. Currently, the country has 47,207 cases of contamination on its soil, making it one of the most affected countries in the world, according to a population of 2.8 million.
How Qatar is responding to the COVID-19 crisis?
In response to this pandemic, Qatar has implemented numerous measures:
- Public gatherings are strictly forbidden.
- Teaching is now done online, both for school and university students.
- The authorities have been offering computers and tablets to all students who needed them, especially large families with six children, for example.
- Companies that can afford it, have switched to teleworking.
- Drones fly over working-class neighborhoods and broadcast messages in different languages. The notes say: “Stay at home, stay safe!”
- The authorities distribute gloves and masks to the workers.
- The Qatari authorities have closed non-essential shops, mosques, parks, and restaurants to combat COVID-19.
- Entry into Qatari territory is prohibited to anyone who is not a Qatari citizen.
- The authorities have decided to make the wearing of masks mandatory outdoors as of May 17.
- Doha has pledged US$825 million to cover salaries and care for its workers throughout the outbreak.
- The government has undertaken to pay the salaries of all placed in quarantine to help them out.
Many contracts have happened quickly with leading international companies to help all populations in Qatar during this pandemic. For example, the Qatar government announced this month its partnership with Microsoft to implement modern workplace solutions such as Microsoft Teams to enhance productivity by empowering its workforce to work remotely. The move will foster communication and collaboration amongst government entities to ensure uninterrupted delivery of services to businesses and citizens.
Qatar Tribune: Qatar donates 5,000 masks to Houston
| The Qatar Embassy in the US donated 5,000 protective masks. Houston Mayor’s Office thanked Qatar for the generous support. |
Paterson Times: Qatari Consul General Delivers 10,000 Surgical Masks to Paterson
| The consul general of Qatar delivered 10,000 masks to Paterson officials on Wednesday afternoon. Qatar, a strategic American ally in the Middle East, is donating masks to 17 states. |
Other sources have reported that a 5 million donation was made for COVID-19 patients in LA, California, and many more millions to global health efforts to find a cure for the deadly virus.
The vastness of cases
TestingOne of the reasons for the high number of cases in Qatar is extensive testing. In fact, to deal with the virus, Qatar has opted for mass screening to break the chains of contamination. Moreover, the test is free. Researchers believe that the best solution to fight COVID-19 is to be able to test everyone. So mass testing has played a pivotal role in fighting the Pandemic.
Given the importance of the people infected with this virus, Qatar has applied sanctions for non-compliance with the rules. In fact, those who do not comply with wearing the mask, which is now mandatory in Qatar, face up to three years in prison and 200,000 rials. The publication of daily figures on the pandemic in Qatar shows that the virus continues to spread in the country probably because Qataris enjoy their social gatherings. Almost every night, men, for example, meet in the “majlis.” It’s a kind of assembly where men meet. These “majlis” can be found in almost every house, so it’s not easy to control the transmission of the virus.
Qatar Airlines
@Qatar airwaysThe airline company in Qatar plans to offer air tickets to caregivers to show its appreciation for their work on the front lines. However, doctors and nurses won’t be the only ones who can participate. Clinical researchers, laboratory technicians, pharmacists, and paramedics can take advantage of this generous gift from Qatar airlines. In early May, the company also offered 100,000 airline tickets also to caregivers around the world, with a quota per country. The tickets were for free round trips in economy class.
Foreign workers in Qatar
Qatar has often been working on improving the conditions of foreigners. Measures are now being taken for nationals as well as for the 2 million foreign workers in Qatar.
During the coronavirus pandemic, foreign workers can only communicate with their relatives with the help of social networks. With all the airports closed, they are far from their families and confined to a country where they do not necessarily know many people yet. Therefore, the authorities have made some applications temporarily accessible for workers to interact with their families abroad.
In recent years, the authorities have built gigantic workers housing estates, where workers on construction sites sleep. They are four people in 25 m2 rooms in decent conditions. Efforts on social distancing are intensely observed.
The approach of the 2022 World Football Championship, organized in the Emirate, makes it necessary to continue building the stadiums and infrastructure essential for the competition. As a result, measures have been taken to limit the spread of the virus by the disinfection of transportation vehicles and work sites.
Although the country of Qatar was hit hard by the pandemic, the response has been swift, intense, and effective; however, an extensive reach out still in progress to deter residents from participating in large social gatherings and improving living conditions for foreign workers.
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