The Supreme Committee announced on Monday, June 29, 2020, that phase 2 of the reopening plan will proceed as planned on July 1. This decision is based on COVID-19 data and indicators. Here's a round-up of all the news and information regarding the reopening and precautionary measures for Phase 2.

Guidelines for Phase 2 precautionary measures

The guidelines aim to provide guidelines based on research into best practices, to facilitate the safe return of activities gradually, while developing precautionary measures and measures that contribute to limiting the spread of the virus (COVID-19) and protecting the pioneers and employees in each agency from the risk of infection.

The guides include the most prominent procedures and guidelines to be implemented in gatherings, transportation, outdoor spaces, and professional sports, health, and education, business, and leisure, according to the requirements of each activity, with a focus on infection prevention and control, awareness of the pioneers and employees, and physical spacing guidelines to maintain a safe distance, in addition to It also provides guidance for groups most vulnerable to complications of the disease, such as the elderly and those with chronic diseases

Mosques

The restricted opening of mosques will continue for all 5 prayers with limited capacity. The Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs announced yesterday the list of the 200+ mosques added to the mosques opened during Phase 1. These mosques will reopen starting dawn of Wednesday, July 1, 2020. Find the new list of mosques here.

FIND THE NEAREST MOSQUE TO YOUR LOCATION HERE

The Ministry also said that the same precautions and procedures will be observed. These are:

• Don't come early for the prayers, mosques will open with Athan (Azan) only
• Do ablution at home before going to the mosque. The mosque's bathrooms and ablution place will be closed.
• Keep a safe distance of two meters from each other. Do not crowd inside the mosque.
• Avoid shaking hands with others even while wearing gloves.
• Cover your mouth and nose while sneezing and coughing.
• Show your EHTERAZ application when you enter the mosque.
• Cooperate with the committee or people in charge of managing the mosque.
• Put your prayer mat in the places with signs only.
• Bring your own prayer mat to the mosque. Do not share it with others and do not leave it in the mosque.
• Wear a face mask even inside the mosque.
• Bring the holy Quran from home and do not share it with anyone. Or read the holy Quran from the phone or complete reading at home.
• As per precautionary measures, people who are suffering from chronic disease are to pray and read the Quran at home.

Parks and Corniche

All parks as well as the Corniche will be reopened for people of all ages while continuing to practice social distancing. Play areas will remain closed. The following precautions remain in place:

• EHTERAZ Green health status upon entry
• Temperature check upon entry
• Follow safety precautions and cooperate with security
• Keep a safe physical distance of 3 meters
• Dispose of trash properly
• Maintaining personal and public hygiene standards within and outside the parks
• Look after your kids to ensure their safety

ترحب وزارة #البلدية_والبيئة بالجمهور الكريم لزيارة كافة الحدائق العامة والمنتزهات اعتبارا من يوم الأربعاء الموافق 01 يوليو 2020 مع ضرورة الإلتزام الكامل بالتدابير الوقائية والاجراءات الاحترازية، وذلك حفاظا على صحة وسلامة الجميع.#سلامتك_هي_سلامتي #حدائق_قطر #قطر pic.twitter.com/X4gJ0cgQ7z

— وزارة البلدية والبيئة | MME (@albaladiya) June 29, 2020

All public #parks will be open from Wednesday 1st July 2020. The visitors are requested to adhere to the precautionary guidelines of @MOPHQatar ; Ehteraz App, Temperature Check, Safe distance and General Hygiene in order to maintain the public health. Playing areas remain closed. pic.twitter.com/ZUbXh0Frqe

— Baladiya (@Baladiya1) June 29, 2020

Click here to see the list of parks reopened in Phase 1.

Beaches

All beaches will be reopened for people of all ages.

See the list of public and hotel beaches that will be reopening here.

There are many attractive #beaches in #Qatar equipped with all facilities. Please Abide by the health guidelines.
قطر کے خوبصورت ساحل آپکے منتظر ہیں،صحت کے اصولوں کا خاص خیال رکھیں۔
क़तर के सुंदर साहिल आप के लिए। स्वास्थ्य दिशानिर्देश का धियान र्ख्खें ।#urdu #hindi #MME #Qatar pic.twitter.com/IemIZy7NWf

— Baladiya (@Baladiya1) July 2, 2020

Restaurants

Restaurants will be allowed to reopen with limited capacity. According to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, restaurants are allowed to resume their operations in the following tourist areas:

• Souq Waqif
• Souq Al Wakrah
• The Pearl-Qatar
• Katara Cultural Village
• Restaurants and kiosks in sports clubs and tourist areas
• Qatar Museums
• Al Hazm Mall
• Msheireb

In line with this decision, restaurants in tourist areas must 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 comply with the guidelines set by the Ministry. This includes the following (but not limited to):

• Pre-booking required before coming to the restaurant
• Prohibiting the serving of shisha
• Maximum of five people to sit at each table
• Reducing the restaurant's capacity to 50% of the maximum number of diners

Restaurants, cafeterias, and cafes (coffee shops) in malls, shopping centres, and other non-designated tourist areas, are allowed to deliver to home addresses or hand over orders to customers outside their activity site.

Click here to know more about the MOCI circular on the opening of restaurants during Phase 2.

Here's the list of restaurants in hotels that will be reopening in Phase 2.

Malls, souqs, and wholesale markets

According to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, all retail outlets will be allowed to resume their activities in malls and commercial centres.

Gaming centres, amusement parks, skateboard arenas, prayer rooms, and cinemas will remain closed. Restaurants operating inside malls and commercial centres are allowed to deliver to home addresses or hand over orders at the restaurant only. This decision also prohibits any artistic, cultural, or recreational activities at malls and commercial centres.

All commercial outlets will be allowed to resume their operations in the following street markets:

• The Gold Souq
• Souq Al Ali
• Al Gharafa Market
• Thursday & Friday Market
• Souq Waqif, Doha
• Souq Al Wakrah
• Al Sailiya Central Market.

Some of the precautionary measures include the following:

• Operating at less than 50% of the mall's regular capacity.
• Reducing the number of parking spaces available to visitors to 50%.
• Barring smoking at mall entrances, and removing all containers designated for cigarette waste.
• Preventing the gathering of visitors and limousine or taxi drivers at the entrance to malls.

Click here to learn about all the guidelines and precautionary measures for malls, souqs, and wholesale markets.

UPDATE (July 2): Children below 12 years old are not allowed inside malls

While shopping malls earlier announced that they are permitting kids of all ages to enter the malls, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry announced Wednesday night, July 1, that children below 12 years old are NOT allowed to enter commercial centers, shopping centers, and popular markets.

Further to the measures and requirements of the second phase of the gradual lifting of restrictions imposed on commercial centres, shopping malls and street markets, the following has been decided: #YourSafetyIsMySafety pic.twitter.com/WdZQdyzTC7

— وزارة التجارة والصناعة (@MOCIQatar) July 2, 2020

[UPDATE July 2] Mall hours:

Non-essential shops will remain closed during weekends. Only essential shops will open for Friday and Saturday (Supermarket, pharmacy)

According to the circular from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, the decision on specifying the working hours of commercial and services outlets have been revoked. The working hours are now to be decided according to the management of each commercial outlet.

Because of this, some of the malls have updated their opening hours from the previously announced 8 AM/9 AM to 8 PM (Sunday to Thursday).

• Doha Festival City - Various retail shops will remain open until 10:00 pm starting from the 2nd of July onwards.
• Tawar Mall - 10 AM to 10 PM (Sunday to Thursday). See more details on the opening hours here.
  
• Ezdan Mall - Line Shops & Kiosks: Sunday - Thursday (9:00 AM - 10:00 PM); Bank (QIIB): Sunday – Thursday (10:00 AM - 4:00 PM); Al Dar Exchange: Sunday - Thursday (9:00 AM - 10:00 PM); Pharmacies: Open daily from 9:00 AM - 10:00 PM; Carrefour: Open daily from 8:30 AM - 12:00 AM
• Landmark Shopping Mall - Retail shops 9 AM to 10 PM (Sunday to Wednesday); 9 AM to 11 PM (Thursday); More details on opening hours here.
• Hyatt Plaza - 9 AM to 10 PM (Sunday to Thursday); More details on opening hours here.

Please take note that the required screening process and precautionary measures are still in place when entering the malls.

Museums, heritage sites, and libraries

Libraries and museums will reopen with limited capacity and limited working hours. Museums and galleries that will reopen include:

• Museum of Islamic Art
• Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art
• Garage Gallery at the Doha Fire Station
• Sheikh Faisal Bin Qassim Al Thani (FBQ) Museum

The following heritage sites look forward to welcoming you from 1 July:

• Al Zubarah Fort
• Al Jassasiya
• Barzan Towers

Check here for the full details of museums and heritage sites that will be reopening and the necessary precautionary measures.

For the libraries, only Qatar National Library will be reopening during Phase 2. It will reopen from 15 July with limited services, limited hours, and limited capacity. Learn more about the QNL precautionary measures and the status of the other libraries in Qatar here.

Boats and yachts

Families will be allowed to rent boats and yachts in groups not exceeding 10 people. Find out more details regarding the resumption of the boat and yacht rental services here. You can find the MOPH precautionary measures for maritime transport here.

We remind you about the importance of adhering to the safety guidelines for marine activities, during the second phase of the gradual lifting of #coronavirus precautionary measures starting today, July 1, 2020.
Thank you for your cooperation. #MoIQatar #YourSafetyIsMySafety pic.twitter.com/TozpeRENxg

— Ministry of Interior (@MOI_QatarEn) July 1, 2020

Gatherings

Public and private gatherings limited to five people only will be allowed, and violators will be subject to the relevant offenses and penalties. The number has been reduced from 10 to 5 people following the discovery of numerous cases amongst Qatari nationals due to majlis gatherings and family visits, and amongst white-collar expats due to uncontrolled contact with no precautionary measures.

Workplace

It was earlier announced during the Cabinet meeting that the number of employees present in the workplace of government and private sector will be no more than 50% of the total number of employees, while the rest of the employees continue their work remotely from their homes, or when requested, as appropriate.

Sports training

Sports training in open spaces and large halls will be permitted for professional athletes in groups not exceeding 10 people.

Private health care facilities

The capacity of private health facilities will be increased to 60% while continuing to provide emergency services. According to the memorandum dated June 28 from the Ministry of Public Health, all work may continue in all health specialties while continuing to provide telemedicine services as much as possible. Health services delivered in the home remain suspended. This includes home visits by doctors, physical therapy, daily nursing, etc., except for nursing services provided through long term contracts.

Click here for further precautionary measures that must be adhered to in private health care facilities.

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Darlene

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