Tawe Ngi Abdelaziz M, Johnston Samantha, Albayat Soha Shawqi, Bansal Devendra, Ahmed Shazia, Sallam Mohamed A, Al-Romaihi Hamad Eid, Al-Thani Mohammed, Farag Elmoubasher, Emara Mohamed M
Basic Medical Sciences Department, College of Medicine, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar E-mail:
Health Protection and Communicable Diseases, Public Health Department, Ministry of Public Health, Doha, Qatar.
Qatar Med J. 2021 Oct 25;2021(3):59. doi: 10.5339/qmj.2021.59. eCollection 2021.
Public health control measures for communicable diseases are often based on the identification of symptomatic cases. However, emerging epidemiological evidence demonstrates the role of pre-symptomatic and asymptomatic transmissions of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Understanding high-risk settings where transmissions can occur from infected individuals without symptoms has become critical for improving the response to the pandemic. In this review, we discussed the evidence on the transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2, its effect on control strategies, and lessons that can be applied in Qatar. Although Qatar has a small population, it has a distinct setting for COVID-19 control. It has a largely young population and is mostly composed of expatriates particularly from the Middle East and Asia that reside in Qatar for work. Further key considerations for Qatar and travel include population movement during extended religious holiday periods, screening and tracing of visitors and residents at entry points into the country, and expatriates living and working in high-density settings. We also consider how its international airport serves as a major transit destination for the region, as Qatar is expected to experience a rapid expansion of visitors while preparing to host the FIFA World Cup in 2022.
传染病的公共卫生控制措施通常基于对有症状病例的识别。然而，新出现的流行病学证据表明了2019冠状病毒病（COVID-19）的症状前和无症状传播的作用。了解无症状感染者可能发生传播的高风险环境对于改善应对大流行的措施至关重要。在本综述中，我们讨论了严重急性呼吸综合征冠状病毒2传播的证据、其对控制策略的影响以及可在卡塔尔应用的经验教训。尽管卡塔尔人口较少，但它在COVID-19控制方面有独特的情况。其人口大多年轻，主要由外籍人士组成，特别是来自中东和亚洲、在卡塔尔工作和居住的人。卡塔尔和旅行的其他关键考虑因素包括宗教节日长假期间的人口流动、在该国入境点对访客和居民的筛查和追踪，以及在高密度环境中生活和工作的外籍人士。我们还考虑了其国际机场作为该地区主要中转目的地的情况，因为预计卡塔尔在准备举办2022年国际足联世界杯期间游客数量将迅速增加。
