Malls, shopping centres, and street markets allowed to resume activities from today

Her Excellency Lolwah bint Rashid Al-Khater, Spokesperson for the Supreme Committee for Crisis Management, announced Qatar’s plans to ease coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions in four phases on June 8, 2020.

Based on the available public health data and COVID-19 spread indicators, including passing the peak, flattening the curve, and reducing the spread of the virus, the Supreme Committee for Crisis Management has decided to launch phase 2 of the gradual reopening plan on July 1, 2020, as initially planned.

The Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MOCI)  announces the second stage of the gradual lifting of restrictions on malls, shopping centres, and street markets.

This decision goes into effect on Wednesday, July 1, 2020.

The Ministry announces the second stage of the gradual lifting of restrictions on malls, shopping centres and street markets. #Qatar #YourSafetyIsMySafety pic.twitter.com/n2N75p5ypA

— وزارة التجارة والصناعة (@MOCIQatar) June 29, 2020

The is following has been decided:

- All retail outlets will be allowed to resume their activities in malls and commercial centres

- Gaming centres, amusement parks, skateboard arenas, prayer rooms, and cinemas to remain closed. Restaurants operating inside malls and commercial centres can deliver to home addresses, or hand over orders at the restaurant only. This decision also prohibits any artistic, cultural, or recreational activities at malls and commercial centres.

- All commercial outlets will be allowed to resume their operations in the following street markets:

The Gold Souq

Souq Al Ali

Al Gharafa Market

Thursday & Friday market

Souq Waqif Doha

Souq Al Wakrah

Al Saliliya Central market

Malls, commercial centres, and street markets must adhere to the precautionary and preventive measures outlined by the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) and the Ministry of Administrative Development, Labour and Social Affairs (MADLSA), and comply with the following guidelines:

- Allow shoppers onto the premises only after checking the color code identifying the individual's health condition in the Ehteraz app. Only green code holders are allowed in.

- Not to allow people without a medical mask, and compelling visitors to wear one throughout their time at the mall.

- Checking and measuring the body temperature of workers and visitors on arrival at the mall, and not allowing individuals with a temperature higher than 38 degrees Celsius to enter the premises.

- Providing hand sanitizers across mall facilities.

- Reminding visitors to maintain a safe distance of no less than two meters from other individuals always.

- Operating at less than 50% of the mall's regular capacity.

- Reducing the number of parking spaces available to visitors to 50%.

- Barring smoking at mall entrances, and removing all containers designated for cigarette waste (ashtrays).

- Preventing the gathering of visitors and limousine or taxi drivers at the entrance to malls.

Shops and retail outlets operating inside malls, commercial centres, and street markets shall comply with the following measures:

- Continuously measure the body temperature of the outlet's staff, isolate employees who exhibit symptoms, and inform concerned authorities to take the necessary precautions and health measures in this regard.

- Abide by the decision to allow employees aged 60 and above, in addition to pregnant women and staff with chronic diseases, to work remotely.

- Place safe distancing stickers on the store's floor.

- Allow customers to enter retail outlets only according to the store's capacity. Only one individual is allowed per nine square meters.

- Encourage customers to pay using credit cards rather than using cash.

- Continuously sterilize all the outlet's facilities, including administrative offices, warehouses, employee housing, and affiliated transportation facilities.

Any violation of the decision will subject perpetrators to legal accountability and procedures.

Here's everything you need to know about the virus, including ways to protect yourself. 

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 Source: MOCI