Qatar coronavirus cases top 100,000 as restrictions ease
The Gulf state announced 546 new cases and five more deaths from the virus on Monday.
The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Qatar has passed 100,000, the Health Ministry said Monday as the country continues with its gradual reopening.
The Ministry of Public Health announced 546 new cases and five more deaths from the virus, bringing the total to 100,345 cases and 133 deaths in the Gulf state of 2.7 million people.
Despite the high number of cases, Qatar has an unusually low fatality rate of just 0.1%. In a recent interview with Al-Monitor, Meshal Al-Thani, Qatar’s ambassador to the United States, credited the low number of deaths with the “early and proactive actions of the government,” including mandatory mask use.
Citing the “weakening amount of virus cases,” the government announced last week it would further ease restrictions put in place to prevent the spread of the virus. Mosques have resumed services to a limited number of worshippers and parks, beaches and boardwalks are now open to pedestrian traffic.
