Phase 3: Guidelines for restaurants, gymnasiums, barbershops and beauty centers in Qatar

Khadiza Begum

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As Qatar plans to gradually lift COVID-19 restrictions in four phases, the third phase will begin on July 28 instead of August 1. In line with the previous decisions and measures taken by Qatar to preserve the health and safety of citizens and residents, and to limit the spread of the COVID-19, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MOCI) has been released the following guidelines for restaurants, gymnasiums, barbershops and beauty centers in Qatar.

Guidelines for restaurants

Conditions to obtain prior approval

Restaurants will be allowed to resume their operations (receiving clients) after obtaining the pre-approval of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. Conditions to obtain the pre-approval are the following:

1. To register for the “Qatar Clean" program on the following website: www.qatarclean.com.

2. To download the restaurants' requirements form, fill out the required information and submit it by email to: [email protected]

The application will be reviewed and evaluated, and approval will be granted when ensuring that all the required conditions are met. Restaurants that fail to meet the required conditions will only be authorized to deliver orders or process takeaways for customers outside the restaurant, in accordance with previous decisions that have been issued in this regard. The Ministry of Commerce and Industry and the Ministry of Public Health will carry out inspection campaigns on restaurants that fill out the requirements form.

The Ministry announces the third stage of the gradual lifting of restrictions restaurants. #Qatar #YourSafetyIsMySafety pic.twitter.com/0gOZlTzvKG
— وزارة التجارة والصناعة (@MOCIQatar) July 26, 2020

Precautionary and prevention measures

All restaurants shall adhere to the precautionary and preventive measures outlined by the Ministry of Public Health and the Ministry of Administrative Development, Labour and Social Affairs, and shall apply the following guidelines:

Requiring clients to pre-book before coming to the restaurant.
Allowing diners into the restaurant only after checking the health colour code on the Ehteraz app. Only green code holders are allowed in.
Open buffet service is prohibited. Only pre-defined menus are to be served.
Serving shisha is prohibited.
Barring people who are not wearing a medical mask.
Checking the body temperature of diners at the entrance, and barring any customer whose temperature is above 38 degrees Celsius.
Providing hand sanitizers across restaurant facilities.
Placing safe distance stickers on restaurant floors.
Distributing the furniture to ensure a space of no less than two meters between each table.
Allowing a maximum of five people to sit at each table (except for family dining).
Reducing the restaurant's capacity to 50%.
Encouraging clients to pay using credit cards rather than cash.
Reducing the number of parking spaces available to customers to 50%.
Barring smoking at the restaurant entrances, and removing all containers designated for cigarette waste.
Barring diners or limousine and taxi drivers from gathering at the entrance of tourist areas.
Continuously measure the body temperature of restaurant staff, isolate employees who exhibit symptoms, and inform relevant authorities to take the necessary precautions and health measures.
Continuously sterilize all restaurant facilities, including administrative offices, warehouses, employee housing, and affiliated vehicles.

This decision goes into effect on Tuesday, July 28, 2020, and may be subject to amendments and updates according to the latest developments in this regard. Any violation of this decision will subject perpetrators to legal accountability and procedures.

The Ministry stresses that the success of each stage of the comprehensive plan for the gradual lifting of restrictions depends on the adherence of all individuals to the required preventive and precautionary measures.

Guidelines for gymnasiums

According to the decision, gyms must comply with the precautionary and preventive measures outlined by the Ministry of Public Health and the Ministry of Administrative Development, Labour and Social Affairs, and shall implement the following guidelines:

To check and measure the temperature of clients upon arrival, and to deny entry to individuals whose temperature exceeds 38 degrees Celsius.
To allow customers entry only after checking the color code identifying the client's health condition on the Ehteraz app. Only green code holders are allowed in.
To prevent children under the age of 12 from entering the gym.
To require clients to bring and use their own towels, personal hygiene kits, and drinking bottles.
To require employees and clients to maintain a safe distance of no less than two meters from each other, except for family members. The area surrounding each fitness trainer must be at least nine square meters.
To limit the occupancy rate to %50 of the gym's capacity.
To encourage clients to pre-book online or by phone to participate in fitness sessions.

Subjecting all staff and employees in the gym to regular coronavirus detection tests, according to the directives of the Ministry of Public Health.
Abide by the decision to allow employees aged 60 and above, in addition to pregnant women and individuals with chronic diseases, to work remotely.
Providing sterile wipes, hand sanitizers, and soap in all gym facilities.
Complying with the directives of the Ministry of Public Health on Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning (HVAC) systems.
Examining all facilities to ensure their cleanliness (including sports and fitness equipment, etc.) on a daily basis prior to opening the gym, in addition to sterilizing and cleaning the equipment every two hours.
Placing safe distance stickers on all floors of the gym.
Providing locker keys to clients at the reception area, and visibly sanitize all keys in front of the clients when handing them out and receiving them back.
Continuously sterilizing all gym facilities, including administrative offices, warehouses, employee housing, and transportation facilities.

The Ministry announces the third stage of the gradual lifting of restrictions gymnasiums. #Qatar #YourSafetyIsMySafety pic.twitter.com/z1HLPAI4T1
— وزارة التجارة والصناعة (@MOCIQatar) July 26, 2020

The decision to close saunas, steam baths, jacuzzis, beauty and massage parlors, and indoor swimming pools remains effective. Gym owners are obligated to implement the specific work guidelines in this regard.

The decision goes into effect on Tuesday, July 28, 2020, and may be subject to amendments and updates according to the latest developments in this regard. Any violation of this decision will subject perpetrators to legal accountability and procedures.

The Ministry stresses that the success of each stage of the comprehensive plan for the gradual lifting of restrictions depends on the adherence of all citizens and residents to the required preventive and precautionary measures.

Guidelines for barbershops and beauty centers

Barbershops and beauty centers will be allowed to resume their operations if pre-approval is obtained in this regard. Conditions to obtain prior approval from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry are the following:

Conditions to obtain prior approval

To examine all employees and workers, and to submit certificates confirming that staff members are free of coronavirus (COVID 19).
To download the pre-approval application form for resuming the operations of barbershops and beauty centers via the following link: https://bit.ly/2WXhSQx.
To fill out the required data and attach certificates that confirm the medical test results.
To submit the application at any service center of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

The application will be reviewed immediately, and approval will be granted after ensuring that all the required conditions are met, particularly medical certificates confirming that staff members at barbershops and beauty centers are free from Covid-19, in addition to the outlet's manager signing an undertaking to implement the precautionary and preventive measures outlined by the relevant authorities.

The Ministry announces the third stage of the gradual lifting of restrictions barbershops and beauty centers #Qatar #YourSafetyIsMySafety pic.twitter.com/gaIs4X77dW
— وزارة التجارة والصناعة (@MOCIQatar) July 26, 2020

Precautionary measure

According to the decision, barbershops and beauty centers must comply with the precautionary and preventive measures outlined by the Ministry of Public Health and the Ministry of Administrative Development, Labour and Social Affairs, and shall implement the following guidelines:

Not to exceed the occupancy rate specified during the current period. The rate should not exceed 30% of the total capacity of the barbershop or salon.
To allow customers entry only after checking the color code identifying the client's health condition on the Ehteraz app.
To check and measure the temperature of clients upon arrival, and to deny entry to individuals whose temperature exceeds 38 degrees Celsius.
To provide hand sanitizers and soap in all facilities of barbershops and beauty centers.
To compel clients to pre-book, and to prohibit customer gatherings inside the salon.
To require employees and clients to maintain a safe distance of no less than two meters from each other.

Barbershops and beauty centers shall also adhere to the following:

All staff and employees in barbershops and beauty salons shall undergo regular coronavirus detection tests, according to the directives of the Ministry of Public Health.
To activate the Ehteraz app for all employees in barbershops and salons, to isolate individuals who show symptoms of infection, and to inform relevant authorities to take the necessary precautions and health measures.
To require all employees and workers to wear medical masks for the duration of their time in the salon.
To place safe distance stickers on all floors of the barbershops and salons.
To continuously sterilize the barbershops and salon's tools and facilities, with a particular focus on door and escalator handles, payment devices, cosmetic and barber chairs as well as equipment and tools used before and after the service is provided.