Qatar to further ease coronavirus lockdowns on Sept 1

(MENAFN- Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) DOHA, Aug 26 (KUNA) -- Qatar announced on Wednesday the re-opening of theaters and cinemas at a 15 percent occupancy as of September 1 for people aged 18 and older. The higher management crisis committee said in a statement that it decided to divide the fourth phase into two stages, in line with the information of the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in the society and public health indicators. The first one will begin on September 1, with continuing the evaluation of the situation and studying a possible lifting or re-imposing some restrictions in mid-September, based on the developments, it added. The second stage will start in the beginning of the third week of September, it noted. The first stage will include the re-opening of mosques for all payers throughout the week, with applying the precautionary measures and the continued closure of bathrooms, it made clear. It will also include allowing gatherings of a maximum of 15 people in indoor places and 30 people in outdoor spaces, in addition to some ceremonies and celebrations like wedding parties, it added. The statement pointed out that the metro and public transport services will be resumed at a capacity of 30 percent, in accordance with the procedures to be announced by the ministry of transport and communications. Flights to and from Qatar will be resumed, it said, indicating that the list of low-risk countries will be updated periodically by the ministry of public health. Several activities and services at varied capacities will also re-start in the country during this stage, it went to say. Spectators will attend sports activities at a capacity of 20 percent in indoor places and 30 percent in outdoor places, in line with the procedures to be declared by the concerned bodies, it stated. The public libraries and museums will begin their activities again at a full capacity, in addition to commercial shops and restaurants as well as private education and training centers, it said. The evaluation of lifting more restrictions is related to cooperation by all people and their abidance by the precautionary measures like wearing face masks, washing hands and keeping a safe distance. (end) nnd.hm

MENAFN2608202000710000ID1100701081