Restrictions will remain for unvaccinated until Covid-19 is eliminated: Minister at Qatar Economic Forum

(MENAFN - The Peninsula) Doha: Minister of Public Health HE Dr Hanan Mohammed Al Kuwari said that the restrictions targeted those who have not been vaccinated against COVID-19 will remain in place, as well as regular testing so long as the world did not yet reach a vaccination level that says the virus has been eliminated. The Minister was speaking at "The Economics of Ecology and Public Health" session at the Qatar Economic Forum, Powered by Bloomberg. She stressed on the importance of testing as a way to ensure safe reopening of different businesses and economic activities. She expressed her hope that Qatar could reach herd immunity, especially that the vaccine markedly limits the transmissibility of the virus but does not eliminate it all together. She added that the ministry is still working on how things will look like post testing and herd immunity, but said she is optimistic regarding the prospects that most countries can reach the required level of vaccination. Afterwards, Her Excellency said, there will be a decline in the number of tests and economies can return to normal activity in different countries. On approving the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines in Qatar, the Minister said that the Amir HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani was keen that Qatar gets the best vaccines. She noted that the ministry at the time saw promise in the Pfizer and Modern vaccines, adding that they worked closely with the two companies to ensure there are enough vaccines for the people in Qatar. She added that the bet on the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines proved to be a clever one, given they are the most effective. On the possibility that the COVID-19 virus was leaked from a lab, Her Excellency said that there was an investigation into the matter that said the virus was not leaked from the lab. She added that more details will be shared as investigations continue. On being the only woman in the cabinet and the large role she played in facing the COVID-19 crisis, Her Excellency stressed that HH the Amir and the Father Amir HH Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani were strong supporters of women, highlighting that the empowerment of women is an item that is always on the cabinet's agenda. She also noted that Qatar has the highest ratio of educated women and highlighted that the number of women with university degrees is higher than that of men.MENAFN23062021000063011010ID1102335234