QNA & TNN
Doha
Qatar will start lifting coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions gradually under a four-phase plan starting from June 15, with the opening of some mosques.
This was announced by Supreme Committee for Crisis Management Spokesperson HE Lolwah bint Rashid Al Khater at a press conference on Monday.
"Thanks to the precautionary and preventive measures taken, we have been able to handle the situation effectively. The day-to-day activities cannot be stopped indefinitely, and the time has come to start gradually lifting the restrictions. It will be done in four phases while following all precautionary measures,” Khater said.
She said lifting of restrictions doesn’t mean waiving social distancing rules and other measures such as the use of the Ehteraz app as a condition for entering public places. Also, the removal of restrictions could be reviewed if there is any lapse in observance of the precautionary measures, she added.
As per the plan, first phase of lifting restrictions will start from June 15, followed by the second phase from July 1, third phase from August 1 and the fourth phase from September 1.
Small-scale public gatherings, with a maximum of 10 people will be allowed in the second phase. This will be increased to 40 people in the third phase, while all gatherings including wedding ceremonies will be permitted in the fourth phase.
Phase 1 will see the restricted opening of mosques, excluding Friday prayers. The use of personal boats will also be allowed in this phase.
Besides opening of some mosques, the first stage will also see people returning to the place of work. While 20 percent will come back in the first phase, 50 percent will return in the second and 80 percent in the third and 100 percent in the fourth and final phase.
All employees must maintain strict health and safety measures.
The second phase will allow a partial opening of restaurants and the third will permit the resumption of flights from low-risk countries and the reopening of shopping malls and markets with limited capacity.
As for entertainment, some establishments not exceeding 300 square metres in area will open at 30 percent capacity.
Private health clinics will open at 40 percent capacity in the first phase, 60 percent in the second, 80 percent in the third and 100 percent in the fourth.
All parks and beaches will open in the first stage, during which professionals can begin to train in open spaces and large halls.
Shopping malls and wholesale markets will open at limited capacity for specific hours in the second stage on July 15. While malls will open fully in the third stage on August 1, wholesale markets will run at full capacity in the fourth stage on September 1.
The second phase will also see dining in at restaurants and opening of museums and libraries at limited capacities. Restaurants will be allowed to gradually increase their staff strength.
Health clubs, gymnasiums, swimming pools, beauty salons and barber shops will open in the third phase but at 50 percent capacity. They can increase their capacities to 100 percent in the fourth phase starting on September 1.
In the third phase, flights from low-risk countries will be allowed for priority travellers such as residency-card holders, in addition to reopening of driving schools. Everyone entering Qatar will be required to undergo a two-week quarantine in specially designated hotels at their own expense.
People who return to Doha will not have the option of a home quarantine.
In the fourth phase, excursion boat trips will be allowed, in addition to expanding the scope of flights according to the instructions of the Ministry of Public Health and opening limited services for public transport such as metro and buses.
In the fourth phase, gatherings such as weddings will be allowed, in addition to opening of mosques at full capacity and resumption of Friday prayers. Business gatherings such as exhibitions, conferences, recreational gatherings, theatres and cinemas will also open in this stage.
Khater said the decline in the spread of the virus would not have been possible without the procedures followed by the state and commitment to the instructions by members of society.
She attributed the success in controlling the pandemic to the commitment of the majority of society members to the instructions imposed by the state to combat COVID-19, along with those precautionary measures that enabled the curve to be flattened, which contributed to the success of efforts to confront the pandemic, and to avoid pressure on the health system. She said Qatar is the lowest globally in the number of deaths, which confirms the strength and efficiency of the health system in the state.
Reviewing the comprehensive master plan to start easing restrictions, she said implementation of this plan is not only entrusted to the Ministry of Public Health or the government sector or the private sector, but rather it is entrusted to all members of society, young and old, men and women.
She said it is not advisable for the elderly and those suffering from chronic diseases to go to mosques until the risks are evaluated.
For his part, Dr Abdullatif Al Khal, Co-chair of the National Pandemic Preparation Committee, said the start of the gradual lifting of restrictions means that there is a partial cessation of the epidemic in Qatar.
Doha
Qatar will start lifting coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions gradually under a four-phase plan starting from June 15, with the opening of some mosques.
This was announced by Supreme Committee for Crisis Management Spokesperson HE Lolwah bint Rashid Al Khater at a press conference on Monday.
"Thanks to the precautionary and preventive measures taken, we have been able to handle the situation effectively. The day-to-day activities cannot be stopped indefinitely, and the time has come to start gradually lifting the restrictions. It will be done in four phases while following all precautionary measures,” Khater said.
She said lifting of restrictions doesn’t mean waiving social distancing rules and other measures such as the use of the Ehteraz app as a condition for entering public places. Also, the removal of restrictions could be reviewed if there is any lapse in observance of the precautionary measures, she added.
As per the plan, first phase of lifting restrictions will start from June 15, followed by the second phase from July 1, third phase from August 1 and the fourth phase from September 1.
Small-scale public gatherings, with a maximum of 10 people will be allowed in the second phase. This will be increased to 40 people in the third phase, while all gatherings including wedding ceremonies will be permitted in the fourth phase.
Phase 1 will see the restricted opening of mosques, excluding Friday prayers. The use of personal boats will also be allowed in this phase.
Besides opening of some mosques, the first stage will also see people returning to the place of work. While 20 percent will come back in the first phase, 50 percent will return in the second and 80 percent in the third and 100 percent in the fourth and final phase.
All employees must maintain strict health and safety measures.
The second phase will allow a partial opening of restaurants and the third will permit the resumption of flights from low-risk countries and the reopening of shopping malls and markets with limited capacity.
As for entertainment, some establishments not exceeding 300 square metres in area will open at 30 percent capacity.
Private health clinics will open at 40 percent capacity in the first phase, 60 percent in the second, 80 percent in the third and 100 percent in the fourth.
All parks and beaches will open in the first stage, during which professionals can begin to train in open spaces and large halls.
Shopping malls and wholesale markets will open at limited capacity for specific hours in the second stage on July 15. While malls will open fully in the third stage on August 1, wholesale markets will run at full capacity in the fourth stage on September 1.
The second phase will also see dining in at restaurants and opening of museums and libraries at limited capacities. Restaurants will be allowed to gradually increase their staff strength.
Health clubs, gymnasiums, swimming pools, beauty salons and barber shops will open in the third phase but at 50 percent capacity. They can increase their capacities to 100 percent in the fourth phase starting on September 1.
In the third phase, flights from low-risk countries will be allowed for priority travellers such as residency-card holders, in addition to reopening of driving schools. Everyone entering Qatar will be required to undergo a two-week quarantine in specially designated hotels at their own expense.
People who return to Doha will not have the option of a home quarantine.
In the fourth phase, excursion boat trips will be allowed, in addition to expanding the scope of flights according to the instructions of the Ministry of Public Health and opening limited services for public transport such as metro and buses.
In the fourth phase, gatherings such as weddings will be allowed, in addition to opening of mosques at full capacity and resumption of Friday prayers. Business gatherings such as exhibitions, conferences, recreational gatherings, theatres and cinemas will also open in this stage.
Khater said the decline in the spread of the virus would not have been possible without the procedures followed by the state and commitment to the instructions by members of society.
She attributed the success in controlling the pandemic to the commitment of the majority of society members to the instructions imposed by the state to combat COVID-19, along with those precautionary measures that enabled the curve to be flattened, which contributed to the success of efforts to confront the pandemic, and to avoid pressure on the health system. She said Qatar is the lowest globally in the number of deaths, which confirms the strength and efficiency of the health system in the state.
Reviewing the comprehensive master plan to start easing restrictions, she said implementation of this plan is not only entrusted to the Ministry of Public Health or the government sector or the private sector, but rather it is entrusted to all members of society, young and old, men and women.
She said it is not advisable for the elderly and those suffering from chronic diseases to go to mosques until the risks are evaluated.
For his part, Dr Abdullatif Al Khal, Co-chair of the National Pandemic Preparation Committee, said the start of the gradual lifting of restrictions means that there is a partial cessation of the epidemic in Qatar.