1996 - 2021 SILVER JUBILEE YEAR QP signs pact with The Swiss leading LNG Maestro is back: players to develop Roger Federer new LNG carrier makes winning designs return in Doha Business | 01 Sport | 12 THURSDAY 11 MARCH 2021 27 RAJAB - 1442 VOLUME 26 NUMBER 8558 www.thepeninsula.qa 2 RIYALS Amir takes part in Caution advised as COVID-19 cases rise International SANAULLAH ATAULLAH healthcare workers of private Olympic THE PENINSULA Infection rate Severe cases Vaccines will A big percentage hospitals and clinics from next increased in all which need be provided of Qatar’s popu- week. Committee meet The weekly rate of COVID-19 age groups, hospital admis- to healthcare lation expected He said that the danger of infections in Qatar has including senior sions increased workers of to be vaccinated COVID-19 will continue until QNA — DOHA increased four times compared citizens which three times private hos- by summer. the end of this year and in case to cases reported in January this indicates the compared to pitals and of spike in the cases of infection Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin year. spread of those recorded clinics from during coming period more Hamad Al Thani took part in “The number of local cases infection among in January this next week. restrictions could be imposed. the virtual meeting of the 137th of COVID-19 infection has family year. “The Ministry of Public Session of International members. increased significantly during Health has sped up efforts in Olympic Committee (IOC), the past weeks. The infection implementing the National Pro- which was chaired by Pres- has reached to all age groups of gramme for Vaccination and we ident of the International the community,” said Dr. Abdu- hope that by summer a big per- Olympic Committee H E Dr. latif Al Khal, Chair of the centage of Qatar’s population Thomas Bach and attended by National Strategic Group on would have been vaccinated,” members of the Executive COVID-19 and Head of the said Dr. Al Khal, adding that as Office, members of the IOC, Infectious Diseases Division at vaccine does not affect on and presidents of international Hamad Medical Corporation fasting so the people should federations and national (HMC). take the vaccine on time on Olympic committees. Addressing a press con- their turn. Discussions during the ference on Qatar TV yesterday. “Qatar’s strict quarantine meeting covered issues related Dr. Al Khal said that the policy for returning travellers to promoting and supporting infection rate increased in all enabled to delay the intro- the Olympic movement, as age groups including senior cit- duction of new variants into this well as the topics listed on the izens which indicates the spread country for several months but agenda. Dr. Thomas Bach was of infection among family we are now seeing positive reelected as IOC President for members, most probably due COVID-19 cases in the region a second term during the to visits, meetings and occa- and in Qatar with the new meeting. President of Qatar sional gatherings. variant known as B.1.1.7 (UK Olympic Committee H E “The weekly infections rate strain).” Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Acting Chairman of HMC’s Intensive Care Units, Dr. Ahmed Mohammed, and Chair of the National of severe cases which need hos- He said that this new variant Thani attended the meeting. Strategic Group on COVID-19 and Head of the Infectious Diseases Division, Dr. Abdulatif Al Khal, at pital admissions increased three is much more contagious and times compared to cases the press conference, yesterday. spreads more easily between recorded in January this year,” people compared to the pre- FM appoints said Dr. Al Khal. He said that the numbers of cases are being population of Qatar, above 16 Corporation (HMC) and over 67 vious strain and may be asso- critical cases which need ICU taken for treatment, many of years, received at least first dose percent working with Primary ciated with increased severity special envoy for admissions increased three them are being admitted in hos- of COVID-19 vaccine. So far, Health Care Corporation (PHCC) of disease. “The good news is times compared to the rate pitals, some of them needed over 45 percent school staff has have received vaccines,” said that the Pfizer/BioNTech and climate change, noted in January 2021. admissions in ICU,” said Dr. Al received the vaccine, he added. Dr. Al Khal. Moderna vaccines are effective “The daily infection rate of Khal. “Over 70 percent healthcare He said that the vaccines against new variants,” said Dr. sustainability COVID-19 is big as large He said that 12 percent workers at Hamad Medical will also be provided to Al Khal. `P3 Qatar welcomes Libya's GNU Two-level interchange to connect gaining confidence of parliament Street 33 with West Industrial Street — DOHA QNA — DOHA the aspirations of the brotherly THE PENINSULA includes a lighted traffic signal at towards Industrial Area via Libyan people for development, ground level to streamline traffic Street 33 and vice versa. It shall The State of Qatar welcomed stability and prosperity. The Public Works Authority in all directions, and a 2.18km- serve many vital entities, com- the formation of the Libyan The statement expressed (Ashghal) announced long bridge passing over traffic mercial and industrial facilities National Unity Government the hope of the State of Qatar commencement of building a signal to provide free flow of in the area, as the West Indus- headed by Abdel Hamid Al that the new government two-level interchange within traffic along Street 33. trial Street extends between Dbeibeh, after gaining the would pave the way for a com- the works of Street 33 Upgrade The new interchange is Salwa Road and G-Ring Road. confidence of the House of prehensive political solution Project in Industrial Area, considered to be an important The new interchange will QNA — DOHA Representatives. that preserves the unity of linking Street 33 with West link for commuters from Doha also facilitate traffic movement In a statement issued yes- Libyan territories, respects the Industrial Street. towards West Industrial Street, in the direction of Al Taqa Street Deputy Prime Minister and terday, the Ministry of Foreign rights of the brotherly Libyan The old roundabout that con- commuters from Bu Sidra that connects between Salwa Minister of Foreign Affairs H E Affairs affirmed the State of people, and establishes a state nects West Industrial Street with Interchange on Salwa Road, Road at Al Sailiyya Interchange Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdul- Qatar’s full support for the new with rule of law and civil Street 33 will be replaced with a and commuters from Bu Sala and G-Ring Road at Al Bahia rahman Al Thani issued the government in order to achieve institutions. two-level interchange, which Interchange on G-Ring Road Interchange. `P3 ministerial decision No. 2 of 2021, appointing H E Bader Omar Ismail Al Dafa (pictured) as Special Envoy of the Road accident deaths decline drastically in 2020 Minister of Foreign Affairs for Climate Change and Sustain- SIDI MOHAMED number of road accidents deaths motorists, 26 passengers and 43 Member of the National Traffic of the total road accidents last ability. THE PENINSULA were 138 cases (in 2020) pedestrians. Safety Committee, and several year,” he noted. Al Dafa is currently the compared to 154 the year earlier. Brigadier Muhammad traffic officers attended the Regarding main reasons for Executive Director of the The number of road accident The General Directorate of Abdullah Al Shahwani, Director press conference. road accidents in 2020, Al Hajri Global Dryland Alliance (GDA), deaths in 2020 has come down Traffic at a press conference General of the General Direc- Colonel Muhammad Radi Al said that the main reason for an international organization compared to 2019. According to held yesterday at its head- torate of Traffic; Brigadier Hajri, Director of the Traffic road accidents was negligence associated with food security the General Directorate of quarters clarified that out of the Engineer Muhammad Abdullah Awareness Department at the and reckless driving, which that is based in the State of Traffic statistics for 2020, the total 138 deaths, 69 were Al Maliki, Secretary and General Directorate of Traffic, were behind 42.4 percent of the Qatar. presented the traffic accident total cases. The second reason, Al Dafa was also the State figures of 2020 that witnessed 21.9 percent, was not keeping a of Qatar’s Ambassador in a significant decline in deaths safe space between vehicles. Madrid, Cairo, Paris, The number of 1,574,812 traffic violations in 2020 and in the number of traffic vio- According to the statistics, Moscow, Washington, as well traffic violations lations compared to 2019. most of the road accidents that as being the Non-Resident in 2020 has 20.1% Colonel Al Hajri said: “The resulted in injuries in 2020 Ambassador to Switzerland, come down department registered 1.5 million were collisions between two or Finland, Greece, Latvia, (1,574,812) traffic violations in more vehicles, at a rate of 59.3 Lithuania, Estonia, Mexico, 2020, which is 20.1 percent less percent, followed by collisions and the Permanent Delegate than 2019 when they registered with a fixed object (15 percent) of the State of Qatar to the Most of the 1.9 million violations (1,969,896). while pedestrian accidents Arab League. road accidents in The majority of them were over accounted for 10 percent. He also served as Head of 2020 were minor 96.3% speeding, with 69.1 percent of The injuries resulting from the Department of European Road accidents at a rate of total violations thanks to the road accidents dropped in 2020 and American Affairs at the 138 strategies implemented by the by 14.8 percent compared to Ministry of Foreign Affairs, deaths Ministry of Interior (MoI) repre- 2019, and most of them were Assistant UN Secretary- Most of the sented by the National Traffic minor injuries with a rate of General, and Executive Sec- road acci- Safety Committee in cooperation 90.1 percent of total cases.