Doha: Money exchange houses have resumed their operations smoothly maintaining social distancing following the State’s preventive and precautionary measures to curb the spread of COVID-19.
People were spotted queuing in line wearing facemasks adhering to social distancing waiting for their turn. The money exchange houses installed thermal screening to measure the temperature of customers and deployed security personnel to implement the preventive measures.
Residents have welcomed the restoration of money exchange services especially ahead of Eid Al Fitr when large number of people used to send money to their families to their home countries.
The Ministry of Commerce and Industry had announced to reopen money exchange service under strict precautionary measures, from May 12, 2020.
The precautionary measures include requiring visitors to wear facemasks, following social distancing guidelines, measuring temperature, and allowing a certain number of customers at the same time, among others.
The Peninsula visited a number of money exchange houses which found following the preventive measures and procedures set by the Ministry.
The visitors were wearing facemasks and gloves, following social distancing guidelines.
Also their body temperature was being checked by staff of money exchanges. There were also security staff to allow only a certain number of customers at the same time.
Moreover, there was police patrols monitoring the places to protect people and to see how they are committed to the procedures.
Money exchange houses witnessed a great turnout during the past two days. Officials at money exchange service offices and clients have expressed their commitment to the precautionary measures against COVID-19.
On its Twitter account, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry yesterday clarified that the news about overcrowding and lack of commitment of social distancing at money exchange houses is incorrect.
“These photos which were circulated on social sites are old and have been circulated after the decision to reopen money exchange shops,” the Ministry tweeted.
The Ministry also called people to take the information only from its official sources and to avoid spreading rumours. “The decision is good as it mainly serves the workers. They used to send their money through these money exchange houses to their families back home,” said an expatriate working with a restaurant in Bin Mahmoud.
He also said that but this reopening came at an appropriate time, ten days before Eid Al Fitr, so everyone will be able to send money without creating crowds at the money changes.
