Doha: Chair of the National Strategy Group of COVID-19 and Head of Infectious Diseases at Hamad Medical Corporation, Dr. Abdullatif Al Khal has called on families to adhere to the measures of social distancing at homes to curb the spread of COVID-19 in the country giving examples of several infected Qatari families.
“First coronavirus positive case was detected in a housemaid at a Qatari family who was screened at a health center after showing symptoms,” said Dr Khal while addressing a press conference on Qatar TV on Thursday, May 14.
He said that when the screening was conducted among the family members, another positive case was found, a six year boy. “A later screening of all family members revealed positive results among the other family members.
Father of the child, working with government sector, his housewife who is pregnant, two daughters and another housemaid,” said Dr. Al Khal. He further added that the infected family had a history of social gathering at the mother's family and when the extended family was screened another positive case was found.
“In another Qatari family, first positive case was detected in a Qatari youth, later more positive cases of coronavirus were found including three sisters, one son-in-law, brothers, two daughters, a son and two housemaids,” said Dr Al Khal. He said that this family lived in three different houses denying participating in any social gathering in Ramadan and in the past 14 days since the detection of first positive case.
“In the third Qatari family, a Qatari citizen aged 74 with diabetic and high blood pressure was infected with acute pneumonia due to coronavirus,” said Dr Khal adding that the son and son-in-law of the infected person also suffered pneumonia because of COVID-19.
Dr Khal in the conference said that despite repeated warning against gatherings many families met which led to the further spread of the virus. He stressed the importance of not meeting family members in each other's houses for Iftaar or Suhoor during the remainder of the blessed month of Ramadan.
