Qatar National Tourism Corporation (QNTC) has held an awareness workshop in co-operation with the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) on measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus in hospitality establishments throughout Qatar.
The workshop was attended by senior representatives from across the hospitality sector.
The session was led by Dr Salam Sharrab from the MoPH, who explained the core measures hospitality employees should take to protect themselves and their guests, the most important of which is washing hands thoroughly with any type of soap.
He also stated that any staff member or guest exhibiting symptoms of the virus should be quarantined as a precautionary measure, and that the MoPH can be reached any time by calling 16000.
The workshop addressed the importance of using alcohol-based antiseptics with 70% concentration to clean toilets, surfaces and public places like gyms, restaurants, lobbies and guest rooms.
Several of the hotel managers who took part in the workshop said they have already taken a number of precautionary steps such as asking staff to limit their interactions outside the workplace, checking employees for fever on a daily basis before they enter the hotel, using sanitisers in accordance with MoPH standards and sterilising all tables, chairs and gym equipment after every use.
Some hotels are offering their guests sanitiser upon arrival and taking additional steps to ensure to the cleanliness of facilities such as spas or pools.
In a statement, QNTC said it has launched a task force that has been assigned to work round the clock in co-ordination with the MoPH and other  entities concerned to make sure that a steady flow of information and directives is communicated to all hospitality establishments and attractions in Qatar.