The Covid-19 pandemic that is lately paralyzing the whole world has affected sports, including football. Most countries in the world have shown positive cases of coronavirus and the deadly disease has also made its appearance at the numerous venues of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. .
However, the Supreme Committee of Delivery and Legacy (SC), the organization responsible for the timely delivery of infrastructure for the World Cup, has put in place its mechanisms so that the outbreak does not spread among workers.
The SC has reported that two employees of one of its contractors, as well as six employees of three World Cup stadium construction sites, have been diagnosed with Covid-19. Both members are hired through an SC contractor at the Al Thumama Stadium site. The rest of those affected worked on the construction of the Al Rayyan and Al Bayt stadiums.
“The Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy (SC) has proven that two members working for an SC contractor have tested positive for Covid-19,” the SC said in a statement. “In addition, six employees of the SC projects tested positive. “
So what are the implications of this progression and how does Qatar ensure that staff are taken care of at this difficult time?
The HC wasted no time in devising an action plan to contain the spread, adopting the standards of Qatar’s Ministry of Public Health (MoPH).
All those who tested positive were quarantined for a period of 14 days and will be monitored by a team of medical professionals. People who were in close contact with the five staff members were also isolated for 14 days.
Several mitigation measures have been followed through the SC, adding the distribution of masks and disinfectants at all World Cup sites. SC has also implemented quarantine and isolation services at all sites. A procedure has been implemented to monitor the body temperature of workers twice a day. has been launched.
Added to this are courses and awareness-raising campaigns organised to ensure staff are well informed about the challenge and know how to protect themselves.
HC also initiated an assessment of the threats to the kitchens of its existing caterers and advised to improve some of them and knew those that want to be replaced by hygienic measures to mitigate the crisis.
They also evaluate the option of relocating non-SC housing to centralized housing that complies with and is controlled through HC.
The SC also temporarily removed other people with chronic health conditions and employees over the age of 55 from its projects.
Since the beginning of the outbreak, the HC has implemented its own screening procedure for all staff to monitor for Covid-19 symptoms, in accordance with Ministry of Health guidelines. The doctors and nurses in the office are trained to read about other people. with upper respiratory symptoms. Suspected cases are reported to the government.
Covid-19 testing is allowed in hospitals assigned to Hamad Hospital and the Center for Communicable Diseases and suspected cases are duly referred to those sites.
The good news for employees is that the Qatari government has guaranteed free physical care during this crisis. Most importantly, those who are unable to work due to Covid-19 and those who are isolated will continue to receive their full salary.
Even the elderly and those with chronic illnesses who have become unemployed will get their full salary.
Up to QAR 3 billion has been set aside for the payment of workers’ wages and employers’ rents through the Ministry of Administrative Development, Labour and Social Affairs.
The SC is closely monitoring the situation in accordance with the directives of the Ministry of Health and has affirmed that it will take mandatory measures, adding the temporary suspension of cadres if necessary, to the aptitude and protection of its personnel.