People vaccinated against Covid-19 will continue to enjoy more privileges in the upcoming phases of the lifting of restrictions as they have taken the necessary protection for themselves and society, Hamad General Hospital's medical director Dr Yousef al-Maslamani told Qatar TV on Monday.
"However, unvaccinated people pose a risk for themselves and others and need to take more precautions for the protection of all," he said.
Regarding the issue of more relaxations of the Covid-19 restrictions in general, especially the wearing of facemasks, Dr al-Maslamani explained that a scientific committee follows the related updates closely and the already announced plan is expected to proceed as scheduled due to a considerable drop in the daily rate of infected cases.
However, he stressed that the strategic committee concerned is yet to make an official announcement regarding the start of the next phase of the lifting of restrictions. The strategic plan to address the situation since the Covid-19 pandemic outbreak and the second wave in particular, helped greatly in containing the situation, he said.
Dr al-Maslamani thanked the public for their commitment and abiding by the preventive and precautionary measures, which helped in the drop in daily infection cases in the country.
"It has also been confirmed that the speedy vaccination drive against Covid-19, has had a great effect in protecting the society and dramatically reducing daily rates of infections," the official pointed out.
"As vaccination rates increase, the number of infections drop and there should not be any objection in moving to the next phase of the lifting of Covid-19 restrictions, but this still need to be decided and announced officially by the strategic committee concerned," he said.
Dr al-Maslmani also reiterated that preventive and precautionary measures against Covid-19 will continue as it is now for visiting patients at Hamad Medical Corporation's hospitals even after more restrictions are lifted.
"The measures are in place for the protection of the patients as they are more vulnerable to infection and HMC would not like to see any infection brought into the hospital from outside," he added.