As the new strain of coronavirus, COVID-19, spreads around the world, medical professionals and authorities are doubling up efforts to contain the virus from spreading further. World Health Organisation said yesterday that the spread of the COVID-19 infection can be contained and controlled but will need concerted response by all the governments.
“We are calling on every country to act with speed, scale and clear-minded determination. This is not the time to give up. This is not a time for excuses. This is a time for pulling out all the stops,” WHO’s Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said at a briefing.
Many countries like Qatar has already set in place proper procedures to be followed and has put its medical machinery on alert to face any situation arising from the spread of the virus. It also helps that Qatar has already in place a very modern medical infrastructure staffed by competent professionals. A senior health official also made it clear in a statement that all the coronavirus cases reported so far are among people evacuated from Iran on a chartered plane and taken to quarantine as they arrived in Doha.
They didn’t have any contact with other community members and the chances of an outbreak in the country is very small, the official assured. As a responsible citizen or resident, we should all follow the instructions of competent authorities and try to educate others who doesn’t have access to such information. Ministry of Public Health has published many infographics explaining what coronavirus is, what precautions to take, whom to call for more information and all the measures Ministry has already put in place.
These are available on their social media handles or can be accessed through media outlets like The Peninsula or other recognized newspapers. It is very important that we follow only genuine news coming from official sources as many fake news are floating around on social media. Before you forward or share an information, please do check the authenticity and source of the news. Sharing fake information and creating panic is not only punishable by law but also a big disservice to society.
Instead of panicking, try to understand the situation and act responsibly, thus helping the authorities to control and contain the situation. Consult a health professional or call the hotline if you or someone you know have any similar symptoms. A little bit of caution is needed in this kind of situations and by following the instruction of health authorities we can easily tide over these hiccups
