Use emergency services only for critical cases: HMC

With the Omicron variant causing an increase in COVID-19 cases in Qatar, Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) senior officials have called on the community to seek only emergency care services and avoid going to the emergency department for mild symptoms.
“Qatar has seen a significant increase in COVID-19 cases driven by the spread of the Omicron variant. The early indications show that the vast majority of people infected with Omicron experience only mild or moderate symptoms which do not require treatment by medical teams. This is especially true in Qatar due to the high rate of vaccination, with over 85 percent of the population having received at least two doses. For this reason there is no need for people with mild or moderate symptoms to seek help from HMC’s emergency teams and they can safely isolate at home for ten days following their positive test result,” said Dr Yousef Al Maslamani, Medical Director of Hamad General Hospital.
The rising number of COVID-19 cases in Qatar is leading to enormous demand on HMC’s Ambulance Service and Emergency Departments. These emergency services remain fully operational and ready to respond to all urgent, life-threatening medical emergency, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. However, HMC’s officials are asking the people with minor, non-emergency conditions to seek help from alternative services.