More stringent measures as coronavirus cases increasing among expat workers
Wednesday, April 1, 2020
As the number of coronavirus cases among the expatriates are on the rise, health authorities are taking strict preventive measures to curb the spread of virus in the country.
As per the latest information available, the total number of cases among Asian nationalities increased to 49, this include 34 Indians, 9 Filipino nationality, and 6 Bangladeshi nationality.
According to Al-Rai Arabic newspaper report, a matter of concern for the health authorities is that they have not been able to trace the source of these infections among the expats, especially those who don't have any travel history. According to Arabic media report, the total number of Indians who contracted coronavirus from unknown sources has increased to 13 including seven cases that were announced on Monday.
Several buildings in expat populated areas where large number of expats are living such as Mahboulla, Salmiya, Farwaniya and Jleeb are under strict monitoring of the authorities. Many of those confirmed cases are living in accommodations where hundreds of co-workers are living together in the same building.
According to Al Qabas Arabic newspaper, 1105 expats are in home quarantine at their buildings in Farwaniya, Mahboula, and Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh. The quarantine period for around 250 workers in a building in Farwaniya will ends within 3 days. Al-Qabas reported that 145 expats are under observation in a building in Jleeb, 530 in Mahboula and 180 in Salmiya.
Same time, it is to be noted that they are only under observation and self quarantine and not positive cases.
Al-Qabas daily reported that a number of staff members of the Physiotherapy Unit in Mubarak Hospital have been referred to Jaber Hospital for coronavirus testing after they came in contact with a coronavirus patient. They revealed that the woman had been receiving physiotherapy treatment at Mubarak Hospital for several days before discovering she was infected with coronavirus. Many of the other staff are under strict observation by the authorities. A residential building in Salmiya is used for isolating the people who are under observation Arabic newspaper reported.
Social distancing is the only option available to keep away the virus, people are urged not to come out of their room specially in these expat populated areas. Expat populated areas are under heavy security guard aimed at restricting the movement of people to the maximum, Al Qabas daily added.
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