Souq Waqif. Photo by Abdul Basit | The Peninsula
Doha: The decision to re-impose some restrictions on commercial activities started from today to preserve the safety and health of citizens and residents as well as to limit the spread of Covid 19 pandemic.
The Ministry had re-imposed some restrictions on commercial activities, starting today (Saturday), as follows:
Shopping Centers:
- Work with a capacity not exceeding 75 percent of the total normal capacity.
- Work with a capacity not exceeding 30% of the total normal capacity in food courts.
- Allowing the opening of prayer places, changing rooms and toilets.
- Only vaccinated clients are allowed to enter.
Popular markets (souqs):
- Work with a capacity not exceeding 75 percent of the total normal capacity.
- Only vaccinated clients and their children under the age of 12 are allowed to enter.
- Vaccinated customers and their children under 12 years of age are allowed to eat indoors, according to the following capacities:
* 50% for restaurants that have "Clean Qatar" certificate.
* 30% for pre-qualified restaurants.
Allowing vaccinated customers and their children under the age of 12 to eat in open spaces, according to the following capacities:
* 75% for restaurants that have the "Clean Qatar" certificate.
* 40% for pre-qualified restaurants.
* Allow provision of open buffet services.
* Suspension of shisha services.
* Redistribution of tables, leaving a safe distance between them.
Health clubs, gyms and massage centers:
- Work with a capacity not exceeding 50 percent of the total normal capacity.
- Only vaccinated clients are allowed to enter.
- Only vaccinated employees are allowed to enter.
- Closure of shower and changing rooms, steam rooms, Moroccan baths and saunas.
Swimming pools, water parks, amusement parks and recreational centers:
- Closed spaces: Allowing capacity not exceeding 50 percent of the total normal capacity.
- Allowing entry to customers who have obtained the necessary doses of the anti-coronavirus vaccine only.
- Open spaces: Allowing capacity not exceeding 75 percent of the total normal capacity.
Beauty and barber salons:
- Work with a capacity not exceeding 50 percent of the total normal capacity.
- Only vaccinated clients allowed to enter.
- Only vaccinated employees allowed to enter
Assistant Undersecretary for Commerce Affairs at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry Saleh bin Majid Al-khulaifi said in a statement to Qatar News Agency (QNA) the aim of re-imposing some restrictions on commercial activities is to protect the society and commercial establishments alike from a health point of view, as the Ministry was keen not to close any commercial activities, after an increase in the number of Covid-19 infections which was observed recently.
He said that these measures come to support and stimulate activities that maintain precautionary measures, and tighten control over high-risk activities, as capacity will be reduced in many place including crowded places like malls and restaurants. He stressed the need for companies, commercial establishments, shopping centers, restaurants and cafes to abide by the announced restrictions.
He also pointed out that the Ministry of Commerce and Industry will intensify inspection campaigns to monitor commercial establishments and ensure their compliance with the measures, procedures and requirements set by the Ministry of Public Health to prevent the virus, and commercial establishments that violate the decisions will be punished.
The Ministry of Commerce and Industry called for the necessity for administrators and workers in all commercial activities to adhere to applying social distancing and health and safety measures, stressing that any violation of what was stipulated in this decision exposes its perpetrators to procedures and legal accountability, and that this decision is subject to amendment and update according to developments and updates in this regard.
The ministry also urged all citizens and residents to obtain information about the latest news and developments from its correct and official sources.
