Circulars issued earlier regarding the closure of outlets on Fridays and Saturdays are still applicable, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI) has clarified.
This also applies to barber shops and women's beauty salons as well as retail outlets in shopping malls, as well as the decision exempting contracting companies, the MoCI tweeted Saturday.
On Friday, the MoCI had announced that the working hours for commercial and service activities from Sunday will be from 7am to 1pm, with the exception of specific activities, as per Circular No 23 of 2020.
Retails outlets in malls and shopping centres shall also remain closed, except pharmacies and those selling food products.
Besides, stores and offices shall continue to stay closed on Fridays and Saturdays as announced earlier through Circular No 16, again with specific exemptions.
The decisions come within the framework of the preventive and precautionary measures taken in Qatar to contain the Covid-19 outbreak and in line with previous decisions and procedures, the MoCI explained.
Establishments exempted from the 7am to 1pm working hours stipulation are as follows: outlets selling food products, consumer goods, and subsidised supplies (hypermarkets, supermarkets, groceries, shops selling fruits and vegetables); pharmacies; petrol stations and car service stations; maintenance companies (electricity, plumbing and electronics services); companies delivering orders through electronic apps; logistics services companies and freight firms operating in ports, airports and Customs services; car maintenance workshops affiliated with agencies; companies operating in the hospitality sector; factories; telecommunications companies and bakeries.
Also exempted from the 7am to 1pm working hours are restaurants, cafeterias and cafes (coffee shops) allowed to deliver or hand over orders to customers outside the business place.
However, restaurants and cafes in malls are allowed only to process delivery orders. These outlets are prohibited from handing over orders to customers, both inside and outside the premises.
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