The Official Spokesperson of Qatar’s Supreme Committee for Crisis Management has announced a plan to ease lock down restrictions in the country. Under the plan, restrictions will be eased in first phases. The first phase will start on 15 June while the second phase will begin on 1 July. The third phase will start on 1 August and the fourth and final phase will start on 1 September. During all the phases, anti-Coronavirus measures will have to be complied with. This includes social distancing and use of the Ehteraz application. If the anti-Coronavirus measures are not complied with in any of the phases, restrictions could be reimposed. Mosques will be able to open with restrictions and Friday prayers will not be allowed in the first phase. Personal boats will also be allowed to be used and essential flights will be allowed out of Doha. Returning travellers will have to isolate for two weeks and will have to pay the costs of isolation. Parks will also be allowed to open for certain outdoor activities and professional training will be allowed in outdoor areas and large open spaces but only for up to five people. Certain private healthcare facilities will be able to operate at 40% capacity and emergency services will continue in the first phase. Shops which are not bigger than 300 square metres will be able to reopen in malls but no more than 30% of shops in malls will be able to open. In addition, 20% of employees will be allowed to return to their workplaces providing they comply with anti-Coronavirus measures. In the second phase, all parks, beaches and the Corniche will reopen and restrictions on mosques will continue. All malls, souqs and wholesale markets will reopen during this phase but with restricted hours and capacity. Restaurants will also be allowed to partially reopen but with limited capacity. In addition, museums and libraries will reopen but with restricted hours and capacity. Boat and yacht rentals will be allowed for families of up to 10 people and professional training of groups of up to 10 people will be allowed in the outdoors and large open spaces. Private healthcare facilities will be able to operate at 60% capacity and 50% of employees will be allowed to return to workplaces providing anti-Coronavirus measures are complied with. Finally, driving schools will be allowed to reopen. In the third phase, the restrictions of mosques will continue and Friday prayers will be allowed at 54 mosques across the country. Low-risk inbound flights for priority passengers, like residents returning to the country will be allowed in this phase. Malls will be able to open for their usual opening hours but souqs and wholesale markets will continue to have restricted capacity and opening hours. Restaurants will also be allowed to increase their capacity. Health clubs, gyms and pools; beauty and massage parlours and barbers and hairdressers will be allowed to reopen at 50% capacity.
In addition, nurseries and childcare facilities will be allowed to reopen as will private training centres but with restrictions. Playgrounds and skate parks will also be allowed to reopen. Team training of up to 40 people along with amateur sports and team competitions will be allowed but no spectators will be able to attend. Private healthcare facilities will be able to operate at 80% capacity and 80% of employees will be allowed to return to workplaces providing they comply with anti-Coronavirus measures.
In the fourth and final phase, mosques will be fully reopened and Friday prayers will be fully resumed. Commercial-related mass gatherings like trade shows and conferences will be allowed as will entertainment-related mass gatherings, like theatres and cinemas providing they comply with anti-Coronavirus measures. The number of inbound flights will be increased following advice from the Public Health Ministry and Doha Metro and public bus services will also be allowed to resume but with restrictions. The new academic year will also begin. Malls will fully reopen and souqs and wholesale markets will also resume full operations. In addition, restaurants will continue to increase operations and museums and libraries will resume full opening hours. Excursion boats will also be allowed as will summer camps, clubs cultural activities. Mass sports-related gatherings will be allowed as well as will local and international sports competitions with spectators. Health clubs, gyms and pools; beauty and massage parlours and barbers and hairdressers will be able to fully reopen and this will include providing home services. Private healthcare facilities will be able to fully reopen and all employees will be allowed to return to workplaces providing they comply with anti-Coronavirus measures. In addition, private training centres will be able to fully reopen along with cleaning and hospitality service providers. The elderly, children and people with chronic diseases are advised not to leave their homes in the first and second phases. See video
