*Fitting rooms to be continuously sterilised
*Each customer can try only three items a day
*Clothes that customers have tried on but not purchased should be sterilised
Fitting rooms in clothing outlets in malls and shopping centres can reopen from September 1 according to the stipulated health requirements, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI) announced on Thursday.
This is part of the fourth stage of the gradual lifting of restrictions on malls and shopping centres, in connection with the Phase 4 of easing Covid-19 curbs in the country.
Continuous sterilisation of fitting rooms, door handles, seats and counters are a must. Each customer can try only a maximum of three clothing items in a day. Retail outlets may reduce the number of items a customer can try on.
Clothes that customers have tried on but not purchased should be sterilised. Retail outlets shall also refrain from displaying any items that have been tried by customers or returned, for a period of at least 24 hours.
Restaurants located in shopping malls can reopen, provided that the number of customers do not exceed 30% of the total capacity. The body temperature of the restaurant staff should be regularly measured and those with symptoms isolated and the authorities concerned informed.
Retail outlets across malls and shopping centres shall also commit to the following:
*Employees aged 60 and above, in addition to pregnant women and staff with chronic diseases, shall work remotely.
*Placing safe distance stickers on the shop floor.
*Each store should allow only one customer per nine sqm.
*Encouraging customers to pay using credit/debit cards rather than cash.
*Continuously sterilise all facilities of each outlet, including administrative offices, warehouses, employee housing, and affiliated transportation facilities.
Malls and shopping centres shall comply with the following guidelines:
*Allowing only green Ehteraz holders.
*Barring people not wearing medical masks and compelling visitors to wear one throughout their time at the mall.
*Measuring the body temperature of visitors and barring those above 38C.
*Providing hand sanitisers across mall facilities.
*Educating visitors to maintain a safe distance of no less than 2m from each other at all times.
*Operating at less than 50% of the mall's regular capacity.
*Preventing the gathering of visitors and limousine or taxi drivers at the entrance to malls.
The MoCI also announced that prayer halls and mosques can be reopened from September 1, according to the capacity specified by the relevant authorities.
* Children are allowed to access malls and shopping centres, including retail stores and restaurants, while adhering to the outlined precautionary and preventive measures.
* Children's barbershops can resume work in accordance with the precautionary measures outlined for adult barbershops, and based on pre-booked appointments. The child, his companion, and the barber must wear medical masks. It is prohibited to admit more than two children into the barbershop at any one time. Each child must be accompanied by only one adult.
*Cinemas are allowed to reopen for customers above 18 years and abiding by the outlined capacity and preventive and precautionary measures.
*Entertainment halls, amusement parks and skating rinks shall remain closed. All artistic, cultural or entertainment events continue to be prohibited inside malls and shopping centres.
The first stage of Phase 4 begins on September 1 and second stage in third week of September, the Supreme Committee for Crisis Management had announced on Wednesday, through the Government Communications Office.
The decisions are in line with the previous decisions and measures adopted to preserve the health and safety of Qatar's citizens and residents, and to limit the spread of Covid-19.
