With well over 1,000 new cases of coronavirus a day despite strict measures to suppress the spread of the disease, Qatar has become the world’s hardest hit country by population size.
The official toll puts 1.3 per cent of the entire population of 2.75 million people in the tiny peninsular nation as having the virus with 35,606 confirmed cases. Despite the high toll, just 15 people have been recorded as dying of Covid-19.
However, the government was forced to deny reports that Covid-19 is running rampant in the country’s jails. Human Rights Watch said that six non-Qatari detainees “described a deterioration in prison conditions" at Doha's Central Prison.
"They said that the prison authorities also further restricted prisoners' limited access to basic medical care," it added describing the situation as "an apparent outbreak".
The campaign group has warned that cramped, unsanitary conditions in prisons worldwide and in worker accommodation in the Gulf make social distancing impossible and could accelerate the spread of the coronavirus.
Qatar’s Government Communications Office refuted the report but confirmed 12 cases of Covid-19 in a jails. It added that two inmates were acutely ill, but none had succumbed to the respiratory condition.
The government said the report was "based on unfounded rumours and speculation from a small number of unverified interviews".
"Two cases reached the acute phase of the illness and were transferred to a designated off-site treatment centre where they received first-class healthcare before being transferred back to the Central Prison once fully recovered."
Masks have been mandatory in public places in Qatar since Sunday in an effort to stem the spread of the virus.
Violators of the new rules will face up to three years in jail and fines of as much as $55,000, the world's toughest penalties for failing to wear a face covering.
Anyone leaving their home will also be required to install a contact tracing app on their phones from Friday, the Qatar News Agency reported.
Mosques, along with schools, malls, and restaurants remain closed in Qatar to prevent the disease's spread.
Michael Page, HRW's deputy Middle East director, called for the release of "vulnerable prisoners such as older people and those held for low level or non-violent offences".
Countries around the world have temporarily furloughed tens of thousands of inmates, releasing them to prevent the spread of the virus in prisons.
In April, more than 500 prisoners in Qatar received official pardons in response to the coronavirus crisis.
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David Haye record
Total fights: 32
Wins: 28
Wins by KO: 26
Losses: 4
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Cultural fiesta
What: The Al Burda Festival
When: November 14 (from 10am)
Where: Warehouse421, Abu Dhabi
The Al Burda Festival is a celebration of Islamic art and culture, featuring talks, performances and exhibitions. Organised by the Ministry of Culture and Knowledge Development, this one-day event opens with a session on the future of Islamic art. With this in mind, it is followed by a number of workshops and “masterclass” sessions in everything from calligraphy and typography to geometry and the origins of Islamic design. There will also be discussions on subjects including ‘Who is the Audience for Islamic Art?’ and ‘New Markets for Islamic Design.’ A live performance from Kuwaiti guitarist Yousif Yaseen should be one of the highlights of the day.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
The story in numbers
18
This is how many recognised sects Lebanon is home to, along with about four million citizens
450,000
More than this many Palestinian refugees are registered with UNRWA in Lebanon, with about 45 per cent of them living in the country’s 12 refugee camps
1.5 million
There are just under 1 million Syrian refugees registered with the UN, although the government puts the figure upwards of 1.5m
73
The percentage of stateless people in Lebanon, who are not of Palestinian origin, born to a Lebanese mother, according to a 2012-2013 study by human rights organisation Frontiers Ruwad Association
18,000
The number of marriages recorded between Lebanese women and foreigners between the years 1995 and 2008, according to a 2009 study backed by the UN Development Programme
77,400
The number of people believed to be affected by the current nationality law, according to the 2009 UN study
4,926
This is how many Lebanese-Palestinian households there were in Lebanon in 2016, according to a census by the Lebanese-Palestinian dialogue committee
Race results:
1. Thani Al Qemzi (UAE) Team Abu Dhabi: 46.44 min
2. Peter Morin (FRA) CTIC F1 Shenzhen China Team: 0.91sec
3. Sami Selio (FIN) Mad-Croc Baba Racing Team: 31.43sec
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UK-EU trade at a glance
EU fishing vessels guaranteed access to UK waters for 12 years
Co-operation on security initiatives and procurement of defence products
Youth experience scheme to work, study or volunteer in UK and EU countries
Smoother border management with use of e-gates
Cutting red tape on import and export of food
RACE CARD
6.30pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round-3 – Group 1 (PA) $65,000 (Dirt) 2,000m
7.05pm: Handicap (TB) $65,000 (Turf) 1,800m
7.40pm: Meydan Classic – Listed (TB) $88,000 (T) 1,600m
8.15pm: Nad Al Sheba Trophy – Group 3 (TB) $195,000 (T) 2,810m
8.50pm: Dubai Millennium Stakes – Group 3 (TB) $130,000 (T) 2,000m
9.25pm: Meydan Challenge – Listed Handicap (TB) $88,000 (T) 1,400m
The National Archives, Abu Dhabi
Founded over 50 years ago, the National Archives collects valuable historical material relating to the UAE, and is the oldest and richest archive relating to the Arabian Gulf.
Much of the material can be viewed on line at the Arabian Gulf Digital Archive - https://www.agda.ae/en
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
More on Quran memorisation:
Zayed Sustainability Prize
