Ministry issues fourth phase guidelines for shopping malls and commercial centres

Doha: Ministry of Commerce and Industry has issued guidelines for malls and other shopping centres as part of the fourth phase of the gradual lifting of Covid-19 restrictions. 

This decision will come into effect on Tuesday, September 1, 2020.

Complementing previous decisions taken by the State of Qatar to preserve the safety and health of citizens and residents and limit the spread of (COVID-19), it has been decided the following:

-    Allowing the reopening of food courts in commercial complexes, provided that the number of customers does not exceed 30% of the normal capacity.

-    Reopening prayer rooms in commercial complexes and shopping centers according to the capacity specified by the concerned authorities. 

-    Allowing cinemas to resume their activities in accordance with the capacity, procedures and preventive measures, specified that persons under the age of 18 are not permitted to enter. It was announced earlier that the occupancy should be a maximum of 15 percent.

-    Allowing the use of trail rooms following specific health requirements.

-    Allowing children's barbershops to resume their work in accordance with the precautionary measures set for barbershops for adults, following prior appointment system and compulsory masks for the child, companion and the hairstylist. It is not allowed to receive more than two children, in the barber shop at a time and one escort per child is allowed to be inside the shop.

-    Allowing children to enter commercial complexes and shopping centers, including retail shops and restaurants, while adhering to the precautionary and preventive measures. 

-    Continuation of the decision to close play areas, amusement parks and skating rinks, and it is prohibited to hold any artistic, cultural, or entertainment activities inside the malls and commercial centers.

Malls and commercial centers will adhere to the precautionary measures and preventive measures set by the Ministry of Public Health and the Ministry of Administrative Development, Labor and Social Affairs, and they must implement the guidelines as follow:

-    Visitors can enter only after showing a green status on the Ehtraz app.

-    People without medical face mask are not allowed and visitors are required to wear them throughout the time they are in the mall.

-    Measuring the temperature of visitors at the entrances, and not allowing individuals whose temperature exceeds 38 degrees Celsius to enter the mall.

-    Providing hand sanitizers in all commercial complex facilities.

-    Educate visitors to adhere to a safe distance of at least two meters.

-    Not receiving more than 50% of the normal capacity of the commercial complex.

-    Banning smoking at the entrances to the mall and removing all ashtrays.

-    Banning visitors or limousine drivers from gathering at the entrances to the mall.

The shops operating inside the malls and commercial centers are obligated to: 

- Examine and measure the temperature of the workers in the shop continuously, isolate the employees who show symptoms of infection and inform the concerned authorities to take the necessary precautionary and health measures.

- Application of the remote work decision for employees over the age of 60, pregnant women, or individuals with chronic diseases.

- Commitment to constantly sterilize rooms designated for measuring clothes, handles, chairs and counters.

- Setting the maximum number of pieces that a single customer can try per day, provided that the maximum number does not exceed three pieces. The concerned shops have the right to specify a smaller number.

- Commitment to sterilizing clothes that were measured and not purchased, and items that were returned by customers, and not to display them on shelves and set them aside for a period of not less than 24 hours.

- Putting safety distance stickers on store floors.

- Receiving customers according to the store's capacity, provided that it is not less than 9 square meters per person.

- Encouraging customers to pay with bank cards and avoiding the use of paper currencies.

- Continuous sterilization of all facilities of the commercial store, including administrative offices, warehouses, staff accommodations and means of transportation belonging to the store.

This decision shall be effective as of Tuesday, September 1, 2020, and it is subject to amendment and updating according to developments in this regard, and any violation of what was stipulated, this decision exposes the perpetrators to legal action and accountability.

The Ministry affirms that the success of each stage of the comprehensive plan for the gradual lifting of restrictions depends on the extent of everyone’s commitment to applying the required preventive and precautionary measures.

As seen on Peninsula Qatar  Image Credits Peninsula Qatar