Public must follow protective measures even after easing of restrictions: Expert

Dr. Jameela Al Ajmi (pictured), Executive Director, Corporate Infection Prevention at Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) has said that as COVID-19 restrictions in Qatar begin to be lifted, health officials will be relying on the public to help contain the spread of the virus by continuing to adhere to infection prevention measures.

“This virus will be in our world for some time to come and we know that as public health measures and restrictions are lifted, some degree of COVID-19 transmission will be unavoidable; therefore, we must all continue to follow protective measures to help prevent the spread of the virus. We must continue to maintain physical distancing practices, good hand hygiene, and to not leave home if feeling sick. If you have COVID-19 symptoms, get tested,” said Dr. Al Ajmi.

“The public needs to remember that we do not yet have a vaccine or cure, so we must all work together to carefully balance the risks. We must not become complacent in following infection prevention measures. These life-saving practices will be essential to protecting the members of our community who are most likely to experience serious illness should they contract COVID-19,” added Dr. Al Ajmi.

She said restrictions will be lifted slowly, and with control, because the risk of severe illness remains high for some people, such as the elderly and those with compromised immune systems. Dr. Al Ajmi said following infection prevention measures is the responsibility of everyone, but she encourages parents of young children to be especially vigilant in ensuring they adhere to infection prevention practices.

“The data seems to indicate that children are less affected by COVID-19 but they may still fall ill and they can be powerful carriers of the virus. Children are generally less compliant with effective hand hygiene, and the concept of social distancing can be challenging for younger children to understand. As we begin to see a lifting of restrictions, parents should reinforce the importance of regular hand-washing and other precautions.”