Qatar has launched a new drive-through coronavirus testing programme to assess the prevalence of the disease in the wider population.
Event Location
Qatar , Qatar
Start Time
09 May 2020, 12:00 AM
End Time
31 May 2020, 12:00 AM
Qatar's Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) has launched a new drive-through coronavirus testing programme to assess the incidence of the disease in the wider population beyond the worst-affected groups where tests had been targeted.
Migrant labourers in the gritty Industrial Area suburb and Qataris returning from virus hotspots like Iran have been the focus of testing efforts, along with those found to have been in contact with them.
But now, a two-day pilot launched Wednesday has seen asymptomatic residents and citizens contacted and invited to participate in voluntary tests at several clinics across the country.
Roberto Bertollini, an adviser to the health minister, "The project aims at understanding the prevalence of the disease in the community - the community at large."
"We have a lot of data coming from the labourer community but not much from the overall community of white collar (workers), Qataris, and other populations. This will allow us to know how many people are actually infected today." added Bertollini.
Officials have said the pilot could be extended.
Qatar coronavirus updates Qatar coronavirus newsQatar drive-through covid testing