Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) today reported 479 new cases of coronavirus (Covid-19) and 345 people recovered from the virus in the last 24 hours, bringing the total number of people recovered in Qatar to 158,853. Out of 479 new cases, 430 are community cases and 49 from travellers returning from abroad. A 55-year-old patient succumbed to the virus taking the total death toll in Qatar due to Covid-19 to 268. There are 149 cases of hospital admissions in the last 24 hours taking the total number of patients in the hospital to 989. The total number of positive Covid-19 cases recorded in Qatar is 171,212 and there are 12,091 active cases under treatment. 5,915 people were tested for the first time in the last 24 hours (9,516 tests in total) taking the total tests done so far to 1,635,175 tests. 15 were admitted to intensive care in the last 24 hours, and so 128 people continue to receive medical attention in ICU. What you can do With the recent increase in the number of COVID-19 cases in Qatar, it is important for everyone to play their role in controlling the virus by following precautionary measures: - Adherence to physical distancing. - Avoid close contact with others, crowded places and confined closed spaces where other people congregate. - Wearing a face mask - Washing hands regularly. Anyone suffering from COVID-19 symptoms should contact 16000 helpline immediately. This is important as the earlier the disease is detected the easier it will be to receive the right treatment and recover from it.

Taking a COVID-19 vaccine injection will not break a Muslim’s fast during Ramadan, senior official from the Ministry of Awqaf said. In a post on Twitter Sheikh Dr Thaqil bin Sayer Al Shammari, Deputy Head of the Court of Cassation in the Supreme Judiciary Council and Head of Shariah Committee the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs, said that the vaccine does not break fast because it is taken intramuscularly and not taken orally and it is not nutritious. “Based on this, the committee said that it is permissible to take the vaccine against the virus (Covid 19) during the day in Ramadan for a fasting person,” the post added. “If the fasting person needs to take it during the day in Ramadan, this does not break his fast, because the injections are taken under the skin, intramuscularly,” the Head of the Committee said. Ramadan will begin mid-April as per the moon sighting and officials and scholars in many Arab countries have weighed in saying taking vaccine will not break the fast. To recall, the Chair of the National Health Strategic Group on COVID-19 and Head of Infectious Diseas-es at Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC), Dr. Abdullatif Al Khal addressing a press conference last week clarified about COVID-19 vaccination during the Holy month of Ramadan. When, asked about the continuation of the vaccination campaign during the month of Ramadan and the possibility of getting vaccinated while fasting, Dr. Al Khal had expressed hope that everyone will be keen to get the vaccine even before Ramadan if they are among the eligible groups for the COVID-19 vaccine. He also pointed that the period of Ramadan must be used to accelerate the pace of vaccina-tions because that will help cover a larger proportion of the population. Dr. Al Khal explained that taking COVID-19 vaccination during fasting does not generally break the fast of its recipient, because the vaccine is not administered intravenously. COVID-19 vaccine is adminis-tered in the muscles, and therefore no one should hesitate during fasting to get vaccinated, Dr. Al Khal had said. He also said that registration for vaccination has begun for Imams, muezzins and other staff of mosques. At present, Pfizer/ BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines are administered in Qatar. On March 10, Dr. Al Khal said that over 380,000 COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered since the start of COVID-19 National Vaccination Program with more than 15,000 doses being administered a day at pre-sent. Dr. Al Khal said that the pace of the vaccination programme means that there is finally hope of a grad-ual return to normal for us here in Qatar and people around the world. However, he said people must continue to follow the preventive measures for now.

Ministry of Public Health has updated the previously announced COVID-19 quarantine policy. They have extended the validity of the vaccine in regard to the quarantine exemption period has been extended from the previously approved three months to six months, starting 14 days after the second dose. The full quarantine exemption criteria are as follows: 14 days must have passed after receiving the second dose of the vaccine before returning into Qatar and a negative PCR test is required on return to Qatar following travel. Individuals may travel any time after receiving the second dose. The validity of the vaccine to grant quarantine exemption is valid for a period of six months, starting 14 days after the second dose. Non-vaccinated children below 16 years of age returning to Qatar from non-green list countries with fully vaccinated parents are permitted to home quarantine for a period of 7 days. The exemption does not currently apply to people vaccinated in other countries.

Father Amir H H Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani and H H Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Chairperson of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development (QF), attended the conclusion of the three-day first round competitions of the Longines Global Champions Tour showjumping competition organiSed by Al Shaqab, a member of QF. H H Sheikha Moza bint Nasser crowned the winners of the top places, where the Belgian rider Niels Bruynseels on the horse Delux van T & L won the Grand Prix, which was held at the height of 1.60 m with a jump-off round, followed by the Italian rider Lorenzo De Luca in the second place and the Canadian rider Eric Lamaze finished third. President of the Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) H E Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al-Thani, a number of senior officials, and equestrian fans, attended the final day competitions amid precautionary measures to limit the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19).

The Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) affirmed that it is possible to travel abroad immediately after receiving the second dose of a Covid-19 vaccine. The Ministry also further reiterated that exemption from quarantine arrangements apply as long as the return date from travel us 14 days after the second dose. ​MOPH announces that fully vaccinated citizens and residents of Qatar are now exempt from quarantine requirements following travel abroad and following exposure to a COVID-19 positive case​. “To qualify for quarantine exemption, 14 days must have passed after receiving the second dose and a negative PCR test is required on return to Qatar following travel or following exposure. The quarantine exemption is valid for a period of three months, starting 14 days after the second dose, and this may be extended in the future with the availability of more clinical evidence. The exemption does not currently apply to people vaccinated in other countries,” explained Dr. Abdullatif Al Khal, Chair of the National Health Strategic Group on COVID-19 and Head of Infectious Diseases at Hamad Medical Corporation. Operated by Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC) under the supervision of the Ministry of Public Health (MOPH), the first phase of the vaccination center will focus on vaccinating teachers and school administration staff, in addition to other essential workers and members of the public who meet the eligibility criteria.

The Mall Launches its Much-awaited PC Assembly Competition, releases new episode of the popular FFTV and celebrates March 8 with an exclusive giveaway • A special social media competition will be organised for International Women’s Day in partnership with l’Occitane. Doha Festival City, Qatar’s one and only choice for shopping, dining and entertainment, has launched an exclusive PC Assembly competition that will be covered in three episodes on the mall’s social media channels in March as part of its exciting international festival. The PC Assembly competition, which is part of Festival City’s Tech Festival, is part of the mall’s commitment to supporting tech literacy and development in Qatar by encouraging tech enthusiasts to show off their skills while also empowering the local community.Candidates competing in the PC Assembly contest must demonstrate their technology skills and quick thinking abilities in order to correctly assemble all computer components and produce a working PC as the final product. In each round of the competition, two participants will compete against each other. Each episode will shed light on the skills of the participants, where the judges will carry out a thorough inspection of the results of the participants. At the end of each round, one winner will be chosen and will receive a custom gaming PC from Geeknation and FNAC. On March 8, Doha Festival City will install greeting messages throughout the mall and change its exterior lighting to purple to commemorate International Women’s Day. In the luxury area, an interactive Butterfly-wings stand will be set up for women to take pictures and commemorate this special occasion at Doha Festival City. An exciting photo-only women’s competition will also be held in partnership with L’Occitane. To participate, ladies will have to take a picture of the wings, post it on their Instagram account, while following @dohafestcity and @loccitaneme accounts. Three winners will be announced on 14 March at the Doha Festival City Instagram Stories and will receive three sets of shea butter offered by l’Occitane to pamper themselves on this special month of March. In addition, Festival City also launched a new episode of ‘FFTV’ on 28 February, featuring Elisabete Reis, an image consultant and founder of Glam Your Image. This FFTV episode was dedicated to children and teens, where Elisabete Reis – who is also a mother of three – shared tips that are useful for mothers supporting their teen children during their age transition. Elisabete visited Tally Wejl and Tommy Hilfiger’s children’s stores to pick the most appropriate outfits for those in teen years. With an unrivaled variety of shops for all ages, Festival City is Qatar’s favourite shopping destination for girls and boys of all ages. Stay tuned to the link below: https://www.dohafestivalcity.com/home/whats-on/FestivalFashion Every other Sunday at 7:00 p.m., all FFTV episodes will be broadcast on the Doha Festival City YouTube channel on: http://bit.ly/dhfc-youtube. To learn more, visit the Doha Festival City website http://www.dohafestivalcity.com .

The General Authority of Customs at Hamad International Airport (HIA) foiled an attempt to smuggle cannabis and tramadol pills into the country. In a social media post, customs stated that the department seized seven capsules wrapped in a sticker containing 48.3 grams of cannabis, as well as nine pills of tramadol narcotic pills. The banned pills were found through a full-body scanner after suspicion of concealing foreign objects in the stomach of the traveller. The authority has been issuing a continuous warning to those attempting to carry illegal substances into the country. Customs officials in the country are provided all means of support including developed means of systems and continuous training.

On Wednesday, a video that emerged online showed the dangers of littering on the environment. A video shared by Sheikha Almayassa Al Thani on World Wildlife Day showed the moments in which an Arabian Oryx was filmed while trying to eat plastic, highlighting the impact of plastic pollution on the environment. “The Arabian Oryx is a national icon for Qatar,” The Chairperson of Qatar Museums Sheikha Almayassa Al Thani said in a tweet. “Over the years, Qatar has played a vital role in protecting & saving it from extinction. It’s sad to see how our plastic consumption affects our nature & where the plastic litter left at Zikreet goes,” she added. The Arabian Oryx is considered the national animal of Qatar and can be found in several logos and emblems across the country. The Oryx is the symbol of national carrier Qatar Airway’s and was the mascot for the Asian Games 2006. Their coats are bright white, and they boast brown legs. Its underbelly blends beautifully with its coat and its black stripes between the head and neck, forehead, nose, all the way down to the horn, eyes and mouth, is clear for everyone to see. However, the Oryx has seen some not-so-beautiful days. At one point, it was one the verge of extinction, but was luckily saved by sanctuaries that started breeding the animal in captivity, producing 75-100 calves each year. In Qatar, The Arabian Oryx Sanctuary, also known as Al-Maha Sanctuary, is the only breeding place for this particular animal. The tweet, posted on World Wildlife Day, also launched Sheikha Almayassa’s latest campaign #KeepQatarClean, which aims to preserve the country’s natural resources while advocating the importance of protecting and maintaining a sustainable living. Though little information was provided, the campaign is expected to launch with a beach clean-up in Zikreet, where the Oryx was filmed eating plastic. Last month, the Qatari royal was pictured while taking part in another beach clean up at the Zubarah heritage site. “Imagine what we could achieve if each one of us spent 10-30 mins of their day/weekend to clean up the mess we have created?” she said in a post on Instagram. “This is our duty and responsibility – I hope we can achieve 100% of clean beaches and heritage sites through 100% of your support,” she added.

An eclectic-looking street, which is shaped from colourful shipping containers, is taking shape near the Doha Port. More info and location you can find on link below https://www.amazingqatar.qa/doha-port-area As of now only a few shops are open and work is going on in others. Near the Doha Port, before the Museum of Islamic Art, the area has shops selling marine goods, supermarket and eateries housed inside shipping containers painted in bright colours of green, red, blue and yellow. View from some of them is the harbour for small boats and the sea while one can also get a nice view of the Doha Skyline. There are a few food trucks set up near the parking area. On the other side of the street is vast green space, a park with few swings, which in the current pandemic scenario, might not be open to public.

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Qatar has been pulling all the stops to ensure the safety of its citizens and residents. Under its efforts to curb the spread of the disease, the country has been successfully running its National COVID-19 Vaccination Campaign since December 2020. To boost its capacity to administer COVID-19 vaccines to even more people, the country’s Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) recently established a temporary COVID-19 Vaccination Center at Qatar National Convention Center (QNCC). Yesterday, the Ministry also launched a new COVID-19 drive-through vaccination center. His Excellency the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Khalid bin Abdulaziz Al Thani inspected the new fasility in Lusail yesterday. During his visit, he was informed about the operations of the center and the way the drive-through works. The center, which is operated by Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) jointly with Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC), will provide vaccination with the second dose of vaccine to people who meet the eligibility criteria. The center comes under the facilities provided by MoPH to facilitate the vaccination process under the National COVID-19 Vaccination Program. Minister of Public Health Dr Hanan Mohamed Al Kuwari had commented earlier, “Qatar is well on its way in the rollout of its vaccination program and as per our strategy, we are now making drive-through vaccination an option for our population. Our first drive-through PCR testing centers have been very popular and continue to be successful with high visiting volumes. The opening of the Lusail COVID-19 Drive-Through Vaccination Center will further strengthen our ability to protect Qatar’s population from the threat of the virus." operations of the center and the way the drive-through works.

The Consular Affairs Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs called on all Qatari citizens traveling to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to abide by the customs declaration procedures announced on the Saudi Customs website for all travelers coming to and departing from the Kingdom, whether citizens, residents or visitors, in addition to being prepared to pay customs duties and value-added tax that may be imposed on the valuable items in their possession, in order to avoid legal accountability against them. Saudi Customs website link: https://www.customs.gov.sa/ar/declare

Qatar Foundation is being transformed into a night-time playground for two Inuit-inspired characters with a serious message to send about the importance of protecting our planet - The Anooki. The Anooki’s artistic light event in Education City comprises an 8-minute video mapping light show illuminating Penrose House (LAS Building). In addition, six-meter-high inflatable Anooki characters will be installed around various Education City buildings. The Anooki will be in place from February 16-21 with pre-registered tours available to the public via the Education City App, and a series of precautionary measures being taken to ensure those who book can experience the installation while adhering to Qatar’s COVID-19 health guidelines. The characters were brought to life by French designers David Passegand and Moetu Batlle, who initially based them on themselves and see The Anooki’s visit to Education City as a perfect fit, with sustainability – and engaging and empowering people to make it part of their lives – being at the core of QF’s mission. Explaining the journey of the two characters, Passegand said: “Their house was melted by global warming, so now they run around the world and discover different cities. “Everywhere they go, because they are joyful and full of hope, they play. Every new place is like a new playground – it’s a game, but a game inspired by the issue of global warming. It’s a fun and accessible way of telling the story about global warming and climate change issues. “We want people to have fun, but to understand that our planet is fragile. The way we built the Anooki, and the inflatables – because of the materials we used – are also fragile, and this represents the fragility of our world.” Hisham Nourin, Executive Director of Strategy, Administration and Projects, QF Community Development, said: “Throughout Qatar Foundation, we aim to encourage people to make sustainability part of their lives, by heightening understanding of what it means for our societies and our future, and recognition of how everyone can contribute to a more sustainable world. Guided tours will take place every 20 minutes between 6pm-11pm on each day of The Anooki’s stay at QF, with each timeslot being open to no more than 60 people, a maximum of 15 people allowed on each guided tour, and social distancing measures in place. All attendees must wear a face mask at all times and display a green status on their Ehteraz app, and will have their temperature taken before joining a tour. To attend, members of the community must pre-register through the newly-launched Education City App, which is available to download for free from Google Play and the Apple Store.