Malls and shopping centres, as well as public parks, started welcoming visitors Monday with all precautionary measures in place to help prevent the spread of Covid-19.
A number of mosques also opened as the first phase of the gradual lifting of restrictions began Monday.
The authorities concerned have put in place a number of precautionary and preventive measures in all these places to ensure everyone’s safety. These include wearing a face mask, installing and activating the Ehteraz application on the smartphone, and maintaining social distancing, among others.
In line with the directives of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry and other relevant Qatari authorities, security personnel and mall staff were seen conducting routine checks and taking other necessary steps to ensure the health and safety of shoppers as well as the people working there.
These include checking the body temperature of visitors as well as their Ehteraz mobile application for the 'Green' status before allowing them entry into the premises, and other safety guidelines such as wearing of face masks.
Apart from conducting regular cleaning and sanitation, malls have also placed signage and marks on the floor to remind and encourage people to practise social distancing at all times.
“It is good to see that mall-goers are keeping a reasonable distance from other people while they go to different stores,” said an employee of a tech shop at a major mall in Doha, adding that few shoppers came in the morning but the number started to increase by late Monday afternoon.
Hypermarkets, pharmacies, money exchange outlets and banks, among others, were also open to serve their customers while many outlets continued offering online shopping and home delivery services.
The businesses allowed to resume operations and the conditions applicable to them are as follows: partial opening of some shops in commercial centres, provided the outlet’s floor space is not less than 300sq m; restaurants that deliver to home addresses or hand over orders while prohibiting customers from dining in; and shops selling sweets, ice cream, cakes, pastries, honey and dates.
It is learnt that several shops continue to be closed but employees of a few boutiques were seen doing general cleanup and sanitation.
“We want to make sure that our place is clean and ready in the coming days,” said another employee who was wearing a face mask as well as a face shield.
Malls and shopping centres are allowed to operate from 8am-8pm on weekdays in Phase 1, but these businesses will remain closed on Fridays and Saturdays, according to a recent notification from the MoCI.
The second phase of the gradual lifting of restrictions will start on July 1, the third on August 1 and the final stage on September 1.
Meanwhile, public parks and open areas, such as the Souq Waqif Park, Hotel Park and the Doha Corniche, also reopened Monday, welcoming a number of visitors who spent their afternoon walking and doing other physical activities.
Several stationary fitness equipment at the Souq Waqif Park were put into use as they are placed at a good distance from each other.
The Ministry of Municipality and Environment (MME) also reopened a number of parks Monday. It had earlier announced that eight parks – Al Wakra Public Park, Al Khor Park, Al Qutaifiyah Park 66, Al Shamal City Park, Al Sailiya Park (Abu Nakhla), Al Dafna Park, Museum Park and Al Rayyan Park – would reopen on June 15. They will welcome the public from 4am to 9am and from 4pm to 10pm daily.
The MME also announced the opening of Al Bidda Park along the Doha Corniche Monday.
Aspire Zone Foundation started welcoming visitors on the walking tracks of Aspire Park from Monday, while the North and South Katara Hills promenade was also opened for walking purposes.
Mosques across Qatar also reopened Monday with the Fajr prayer. These included mosques in Abal Heeran, Bin Omran, Bu Sidra, Bu Hamour, Ezgava, Al Salata Al Jadeeda, Umm Saneem, Umm Al Amad, Umm Salal Ali, Umm Salal Mohamed, Gharrafat Al Rayyan, Umm Qarn, Umm Lekhba, Al Luqta, Bane Hajer, Bu Sidra, Al Khor, Al Kheesa, Al Ruwais, Al Rayyan Al Jadeed, Al Sadd, Al Sudan, Al Shahaniyya, Al Azeeziya, Onaiza, Ain Khaled, Al Gharrafa, Madinat Khalifa South, Legataifiya, Al Mirqab, Al Meshaf, Muaither South, Al Wajba, Al Hilal, Al Wakra and Al Wukair.
Phase 1 will see the restricted opening of mosques, excluding Friday prayers.
The authorities concerned have put in place a number of precautionary and preventive measures in all these places to ensure everyone’s safety. These include wearing a face mask, installing and activating the Ehteraz application on the smartphone, and maintaining social distancing, among others.
A view of Doha Festival City on Monday. PICTURE: Anas al-Samaraee
City Centre on Monday.
From the Villagio mall. PICTURE: Shemeer Rasheed
City Centre on Monday.
PICTURE:
JayaramThe Mall.
PICTURE:
Jayan OrmaIn line with the directives of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry and other relevant Qatari authorities, security personnel and mall staff were seen conducting routine checks and taking other necessary steps to ensure the health and safety of shoppers as well as the people working there.
These include checking the body temperature of visitors as well as their Ehteraz mobile application for the 'Green' status before allowing them entry into the premises, and other safety guidelines such as wearing of face masks.
Apart from conducting regular cleaning and sanitation, malls have also placed signage and marks on the floor to remind and encourage people to practise social distancing at all times.
“It is good to see that mall-goers are keeping a reasonable distance from other people while they go to different stores,” said an employee of a tech shop at a major mall in Doha, adding that few shoppers came in the morning but the number started to increase by late Monday afternoon.
When parks opened Monday. PICTURES: Shaji Kayamkulam, Ram Chand
Hypermarkets, pharmacies, money exchange outlets and banks, among others, were also open to serve their customers while many outlets continued offering online shopping and home delivery services.
The businesses allowed to resume operations and the conditions applicable to them are as follows: partial opening of some shops in commercial centres, provided the outlet’s floor space is not less than 300sq m; restaurants that deliver to home addresses or hand over orders while prohibiting customers from dining in; and shops selling sweets, ice cream, cakes, pastries, honey and dates.
It is learnt that several shops continue to be closed but employees of a few boutiques were seen doing general cleanup and sanitation.
“We want to make sure that our place is clean and ready in the coming days,” said another employee who was wearing a face mask as well as a face shield.
Malls and shopping centres are allowed to operate from 8am-8pm on weekdays in Phase 1, but these businesses will remain closed on Fridays and Saturdays, according to a recent notification from the MoCI.
The second phase of the gradual lifting of restrictions will start on July 1, the third on August 1 and the final stage on September 1.
Meanwhile, public parks and open areas, such as the Souq Waqif Park, Hotel Park and the Doha Corniche, also reopened Monday, welcoming a number of visitors who spent their afternoon walking and doing other physical activities.
Several stationary fitness equipment at the Souq Waqif Park were put into use as they are placed at a good distance from each other.
The Ministry of Municipality and Environment (MME) also reopened a number of parks Monday. It had earlier announced that eight parks – Al Wakra Public Park, Al Khor Park, Al Qutaifiyah Park 66, Al Shamal City Park, Al Sailiya Park (Abu Nakhla), Al Dafna Park, Museum Park and Al Rayyan Park – would reopen on June 15. They will welcome the public from 4am to 9am and from 4pm to 10pm daily.
The MME also announced the opening of Al Bidda Park along the Doha Corniche Monday.
Aspire Zone Foundation started welcoming visitors on the walking tracks of Aspire Park from Monday, while the North and South Katara Hills promenade was also opened for walking purposes.
Mosques across Qatar also reopened Monday with the Fajr prayer. These included mosques in Abal Heeran, Bin Omran, Bu Sidra, Bu Hamour, Ezgava, Al Salata Al Jadeeda, Umm Saneem, Umm Al Amad, Umm Salal Ali, Umm Salal Mohamed, Gharrafat Al Rayyan, Umm Qarn, Umm Lekhba, Al Luqta, Bane Hajer, Bu Sidra, Al Khor, Al Kheesa, Al Ruwais, Al Rayyan Al Jadeed, Al Sadd, Al Sudan, Al Shahaniyya, Al Azeeziya, Onaiza, Ain Khaled, Al Gharrafa, Madinat Khalifa South, Legataifiya, Al Mirqab, Al Meshaf, Muaither South, Al Wajba, Al Hilal, Al Wakra and Al Wukair.
Phase 1 will see the restricted opening of mosques, excluding Friday prayers.
