Qatar’s plans to ease COVID-19 restrictions in four phases beginning June 15, 2020

Qatar’s plans to ease COVID-19 restrictions in four phases beginning June 15, 2020

In a press conference held on the 8th of June 2020, Her Excellency Lolwah bint Rashid Al Khater, Official Spokesperson for the Supreme Committee for Crisis Management, announced Qatar’s plans to ease COVID-19 restrictions in four phases beginning June 15, 2020 (Phase 1) and Phase 4 by 1st of September.

The gradual lifting of lock-down restrictions:

  • Qatar is one of the countries with the lowest number of COVID-19 deaths.
  • Gradual lifting of restrictions will be carried out in the State of Qatar through 4 phases with all the necessary precautionary measures.
  • Stringent assessment will be carried out during each Phase. Moving from one phase to other phase will be based on the indications measured during the assessment.
  • Possible to re-impose restrictions or delay of moving to next phase in the event of non-compliance and if assessment indicators are negative

Four Phases of Gradual lifting of restrictions are as follows:

  • Phase 1 – June 15
  • Phase 2- July 1
  • Phase 3 – August 1
  • Phase 4 – September 1

 



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SWADES Skill Card: Skill mapping of overseas returning citizens by Government of India

EHTERAZ app update allows registration with visa number for non-QID holders

Register on the Indian Embassy website for repatriation before it is closed | Embassy of India, Doha

Download Ehteraz App:

EHTERAZ App on Google Play (For Android Users) https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.moi.covid19&hl=en
EHTERAZ App on Apple App Store (For iOS users) https://apps.apple.com/us/app/ehteraz/id1507150431

EHTERAZ app update allows registration with visa number for non-QID holders

EHTERAZ app update allows registration with visa number for non-QID holders

Qatar has made EHTERAZ Covid-19 tracking app installation compulsory for all citizens and residents when leaving the house for any reason.

Non-QID holders were not able to register on EHTERAZ app as it requires QID number to complete the registration. In a recent update on android version of EHTERAZ app (on Google Play Store) it allows non-QID holders (Business and Other Visit Visa Holders) to register using Visa information.

The new update has been rolled our only on Android version and it is expected to happen on iOS version as well very soon. Ehteraz app has two options to choose while registering – “Visa Registration” and “QID Registration”. Non-QID holders has to choose Visa option and then it ask for your Mobile Number, Visa Number and Nationality to get the verification pin.

Non-QID holders were not able to register on this app as it required QID number to complete the registration. In a recent update on android version of EHTERAZ (on Google Play Store) it allows non-QID holders (Business and Other Visit Visa Holders) to register using Visa information instead of QID number.

Non-QID holders were not able to register on this app as it required QID number to complete the registration. In a recent update on android version of EHTERAZ (on Google Play Store) it allows non-QID holders (Business and Other Visit Visa Holders) to register using Visa information instead of QID number.

Many visitor who came on visit to Qatar and could travel to their home country couldn’t install Ehteraz app earlier without QID Number. This update is a great news for people who are on visit visa since the Ehteraz app is mandatory if someone wish to leave the house for any reason.

Now many establishments in Qatar including most supermarkets and banks check for green status before they allow customers inside.


Download Ehteraz App

EHTERAZ App on Google Play (For Android Users) https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.moi.covid19&hl=en
EHTERAZ App on Apple App Store (For iOS users) https://apps.apple.com/us/app/ehteraz/id1507150431

Image Source: Google Android Play Store (Just for representation)

16000 will also continue to provide a 24/7 call centre service for all enquiries in relation to the COVID-19. 


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Qatar eases some COVID-19 restrictions | Permitted working hours extended | 4 people allowed in a vehicle

Qatar eases some COVID-19 restrictions | Permitted working hours extended | 4 people allowed in a vehicle

His Excellency the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Al Thani chaired the 22nd Cabinet meeting on 3rd June (Today) through video conferencing. During the meeting, Cabinet affirms the continuation of the precautionary measures taken to combat the epidemic. Following decisions have been taken during,

Permitted Working Hours: Effective from 4th of June (Thursday), permitted working hours for commercial and service activities will be from 7:00 am to 8:00 pm (Sunday to Thursday) with the exception of following activities

Outlets selling food products, consumer goods and subsidised supplies (hypermarkets, supermarkets and groceries) and shops selling fruits and vegetables.

  • Pharmacies
  • Factories
  • Companies delivering orders through electronic apps
  • Petroleum Stations and Car services
  • Car Maintenance workshops affiliated with agencies
  • Companies operating in the hospitality sector
  • Telecommunications companies
  • Maintenance Companies (electricity, plumbing and electronic services)
  • Restaurants, Cafeterias and Cafe’s (Coffee Shops) that are allowed to deliver or hand over orders to customers outside the business place. However, restaurants and cafe’s located in malls are exempt from this decision, and are only allowed to process delivery orders. These outlets are prohibited from handing over orders to customers inside the premises
  • Logistics services companies and freight firms operating in ports, airports and customs services.
  • Contracting and Engineering companies (allowed to operate in constriction sites along with affiliated engineering offices)

Number of people in a vehicle: Cabinet increased the minimum number of people allowed in a vehicle from two to four (including the driver). Families are exempted from this decision.

Bus Transportation: The decision to reduce the number of people transported by buses to half the capacity will continue.

Cabinet agrees on a draft law that amends some provisions of law no. 14 of 2004, which comes in the framework of Qatar’s commitment to increase regulation of health requirements and specifications for workers’ housing, and to enhance the protections for workers’ financial rights.

Cabinet approved a draft Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for joint cooperation in the field of health between the government of the State of Qatar and the government of Ethiopia

Cabinet approved a multilateral Memorandum of Understanding on consultation and exchanging information between regulatory bodies of financial markets in Arab countries who are members of the Union of Arab Securities Authorities.

Source: Qatar News Agency & MoCI


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Register on the Indian Embassy website for repatriation before it is closed | Embassy of India, Doha

Download Ehteraz App:

EHTERAZ App on Google Play (For Android Users) https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.moi.covid19&hl=en
EHTERAZ App on Apple App Store (For iOS users) https://apps.apple.com/us/app/ehteraz/id1507150431

Government offices reopens on 31st May after Eid Al-Fitr holidays from 7 am to 1 pm: 20% of employees at offices & 80% to work remotely

Government offices reopens on 31st May after Eid Al-Fitr holidays from 7 am to 1 pm: 20% of employees at offices & 80% to work remotely

Government offices in Qatar are scheduled to reopen from 31st May 2020, Sunday after Eid Al-Fitr holidays. As tweeted by ADLSAQa, starting from Sunday 31/05/2020 working hours in the Government sector offices will be from 7:00 am to 1:00 pm.

As a part of preventive and precautionary measures to fight against the spread of Coronavirus COVID-19, government offices will adhere to the decision to have 20% of total employees in the offices and the other 80% employees to work remotely from home.

Qatar has taken many measures to fights against the spread of deadly coronavirus, COVID-19. It includes,

Effective from May 22 until further notice it has been made compulsory for all citizens and residents are obligated to install the EHTERAZ app on smartphones when leaving the house for any reason.

Source: QNA / ADLSAQa


  • 16000 will also continue to provide a 24/7 call centre service for all enquiries in relation to the COVID-19. 
  • Covid-19 helpline numbers of Indian Embassy Doha – 55647502 and 55667569 | Queries will be answered only by WhatsApp / SMS. Do not to communicate on these numbers for repatriation and consular service related queries.

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Residents and Citizens urged to stay at home as much as possible during Eid-Al-Fitr

Residents and Citizens urged to stay at home as much as possible during Eid-Al-Fitr

The State of Qatar has taken many precautionary measures to ensure the safety of Citizens and Residents and to limit the spread of novel coronavirus, COVID-19.

Summary of Key messages delivered by Dr. Abdullatif Al Khal, Chair of the National Strategic Group on COVID-19 and Head of the Infectious Diseases Division at HMC during the press conference, held by Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) on May 21, 2020

  • Throughout this month the number of new cases has gradually risen, and the State of Qatar is entering the peak stage of COVID-19.
  • It is encouraging that the number of patients making full recovery from COVID-19 virus is also increasing each day and this week the total number of recovered cases passed 6,000.
  • The number of daily recoveries is increasing in part due to new international guidelines on the time-frame for when patients are no longer contagious, meaning they can be safely discharged sooner.
  • While the majority of patients with COVID-19 experience only mild symptoms, the State of Qatar is witnessing an increase in the number of patients with more severe symptoms.
  • Throughout the past week, every day an average of 20 COVID-19 patients has been admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) due to serious complications.
  • Eid is traditionally a time of the year when we socialize and celebrate with family and friends, but this year is going to be different.
  • It is very important that citizens and expats stay at home and only go out when it is really required for a necessity and while doing so you should follow social and physical distancing measures.
  • We are seeing many examples where the COVID-19 virus is rapidly spreading among the members of the same family, including examples where they do not share a household, due to families visiting each other and socializing during Ramadan.
  • We all have a role to play in successfully overcoming this pandemic – we ask the public to work with the healthcare sector and play their part

Summary of Key messages delivered by Dr. Muna Al Maslamani (Communicable Disease Center Medical Director):

  • Evidence from around the world shows that while anyone can become infected with COVID-19, people with chronic disease are more likely to develop severe symptoms if they get the virus.
  • Data from Intensive Care Units at HMC shows that 49% of patients admitted to ICU with COVID-19 have one or more chronic health conditions.
  • This is because chronic diseases can impair the immune system’s ability to fight off infection and leave the body more susceptible to severe symptoms.
  • The symptoms and their severity differ from case to case for COVID-19 patients and indeed many patients are asymptomatic – meaning they display no symptoms at all.
  • 94% of cases in the state of Qatar are mild or asymptomatic, 5% require hospitalization, and 1% are admitted in Intensive Care Units.
  • We have been using plasma treatment for patients admitted to the Communicable Disease Center, with plasma from patients who have recovered from COVID-19.
  • To date, more than 100 patients have received plasma from around 96 recovered donors and the team is seeing the number of donations from recovered patients rise each week.
  • The most critically ill COVID-19 patients are currently being treated at the Intesive Care Units at Hazm Mebeireek General Hospital and severely ill COVID-19 patients often require mechanical ventilation. A small percentage – the most severely ill – will require extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) therapy.
  • It is clear that COVID-19 affects people with chronic disease in a much more serious way than other people – and so it is extremely important for people with chronic disease to stay at home as much as possible and follow preventive measures to protect themselves from catching the virus.

Source: MoPH Qatar

16000 will also continue to provide a 24/7 call centre service for all enquiries in relation to the COVID-19. 


Download Ehteraz App

EHTERAZ App on Google Play (For Android Users) https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.moi.covid19&hl=en
EHTERAZ App on Apple App Store (For iOS users) https://apps.apple.com/us/app/ehteraz/id1507150431

Also Read:

New precautionary measures | EHTERAZ app installation on smartphones now mandatory when leaving the house for any reason

New precautionary measures | EHTERAZ app installation on smartphones now mandatory when leaving the house for any reason

The State of Qatar has taken many precautionary measures to ensure the safety of Citizens and Expats to fight against the spread of deadly coronavirus, COVID-19.

Prime Minister and Minister of Interior His Excellency Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Al Thani chaired the cabinet meeting via video conferencing on Monday 18th May 2020.

After the meeting, Minister of Justice and Acting Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs His Excellency Dr. Isa bin Saad Al-Jafali Al-Nuaimi stated the following: The Cabinet listened to the explanation provided by Minister of Public Health on the latest updates and developments to reduce the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19). The Council affirmed the continuation of the precautionary measures taken to combat COVID-19 pandemic and decided the following.

FIRST:

  1. All citizens and residents are obligated to install the EHTERAZ app on smartphones when leaving the house for any reason.
  2. This decision is effective from Friday 22/5/2020 until further notice.

Download Ehteraz App

EHTERAZ App on Google Play (For Android Users) https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.moi.covid19&hl=en
EHTERAZ App on Apple App Store (For iOS users) https://apps.apple.com/us/app/ehteraz/id1507150431

SECOND:

  1. All citizens and residents are obligated not to have more than 2 people in the vehicle and a maximum of 3 are allowed in the following cases:
  • Transportation in taxis and limousines.
  • Transfer in private vehicles when driven by the driver of the family.

2. Ambulances and vehicles of the Public Health Ministry and the security and military authorities are excluded from that.

3. Continuation of the decision to reduce number of people transported by buses to half the capacity of the bus while taken the precautionary measures.

4. This decision is effective from Tuesday, May 19, 2020, until further notice.

THIRD:

  1. Practicing sport shall be in areas close to the residence area, taking into consideration avoiding gatherings and taking necessary precautions of wearing masks and maintaining safe distance.
  2. This decision is effective from Tuesday 19/5/2020 until further notice.

FOURTH:

  • The Ministry of Interior shall take the necessary measures in this regard.

FIFTH:

  • Closing shops and stopping all commercial activities from 19/5/20 to 30/5/2020, except food and catering shops, pharmacies, restaurants providing delivery service, and the Ministry of Commerce shall determine the other necessary activities exempted from this decision.

SIXTH:

  • In case of non-compliance with these decisions, penalties stipulated in Decree-Law No. (17) of 1990 regarding prevention of infectious diseases shall be applied to violators by imprisonment for not exceeding 3 years and fine not exceeding QR 200,000 or one of them.

Source: Qatar News Agency

16000 will also continue to provide a 24/7 call centre service for all enquiries in relation to the COVID-19. 

Also Read:

Ehteraz App to combat COVID-19 launched in Qatar | Download from Apple App Store

Ehteraz App to combat COVID-19 launched in Qatar | Download from Apple App Store and soon will be available on Android Play Store as well

Qatar has been taking lot of measures to prevent and fight against the Coronavirus COVID-19. As a part of steps taken to fight against COVID-19, the Official Spokesperson of the Supreme Committee for Crisis Management H.E. Lolwah Al Khater earlier in April announced that a new mobile application called EHTERAZ meaning “precaution” will be launched soon.

The Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) on a recent tweet announced that the Ehteraz app is now available for download from Apple App Store. MoPH also said in that tweet that, For your safety and the safety of your community, download the Ehteraz app. (Apple Play Store Download Link: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/ehteraz/id1507150431)

 


Download Ehteraz App

EHTERAZ App on Google Play (For Android Users) https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.moi.covid19&hl=en
EHTERAZ App on Apple App Store (For iOS users) https://apps.apple.com/us/app/ehteraz/id1507150431

What is EHTERAZ app?

EHTERAZ app is a smart application launched by the state of Qatar. It helps every individual to receive and follow up on the updates related to Coronavirus COVID-19 in Qatar.

How do I download EHTERAZ App?

EHTERAZ app is available now on Apple App Store and soon it will be made available on Android Play Store as well. Apple Play Store Download Link: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/ehteraz/id1507150431

How EHTERAZ App helps each individual?

Apart from identifying COVID-19 transmission chains it also displays the official statistics, the latest developments, receive awareness tips, protection methods and precautionary instructions issued by the official authorities.

How EHTERAZ App works?

EHTERAZ application will feature an indicator, indicating health status of everyone around us. The profile of each user is linked to the QR code by automatically extracting the user’s health information from the official bodies according to the below categories – Red, Yellow, Grey, and Green.

  • Red: For people who have been tested and had tested positive for COVID-19
  • Yellow: Individuals who have been placed in the quarantine facilities
  • Grey: Suspected cases, individuals who exhibit symptoms, or who have been in contact with COVID-19 Positive cases but have not been tested
  • Green: Healthy individuals who do not exhibit any symptoms, or who have tested negative

 

Apple App Store information about EHTERAZ:

EHTERAZ is your trusted smart application to follow up on the latest updates of COVID-19 Coronavirus in Qatar. EHTERAZ has been designed and developed in the Ministry of Interior to support all categories of the Qatari community to spread the health awareness tips and techniques as well as the protection methods that are necessary to halt the outbreak of Coronavirus. This smart tool is also meant to give a hand to those people that are responsible for their families in their endeavors to protect their love ones, and to support healthcare and related entities in order to protect the safety of individuals and that of the Qatari community from this pandemic virus at large.

Sources and Credits: Ministry of Interior, MoPHTwitter – H.E. Lolwah Al Khater, the Official Spokesperson of the Supreme Committee for Crisis Managementapps.apple.com

16000 will also continue to provide a 24/7 call centre service for all enquiries in relation to the COVID-19. 

Also Read:

Government agencies to reduce the number of employees present at the workplace | Private sectors – 80% to work from home and reduce workers at workplace to 20%  | Six working hours per day at workplace | 7:00 am – 1:00 pm | Meeting rules for employees and workers | Use Technology | No more than (5) persons

How residents can buy their allocated share of masks from Pharmacies in Qatar – 20 Masks for QR 40

How residents can buy their allocated share of masks from Pharmacies in Qatar – 20 Masks for QR 40

The Ministry of Commerce and Industry has announced the mechanism for the second phase of distributing masks through pharmacies. The second phase will start on Monday, 13 April 2020.

How to buy your allocated share of masks?

Residents can obtain their allocated share of masks from the list of pharmacies by showing your Qatar ID. You can buy a maximum of 20 masks for QR 40 by showing your QID.

List of pharmacies where residents / citizens can avail these masks

  • Boots Group of Pharmacies
  • Al Aziziya Group of Pharmacies
  • Kulud Group of Pharmacies
  • Wellcare Group of Pharmacies
  • Al Jazi Group of Pharmacies
  • Care n Cure Group of Pharmacies
  • Sunlife Group of Pharmacies
  • Allevia Group of Pharmacies
  • Relief Group of Pharmacies
  • Family Group of Pharmacy
  • Afiya Group of Pharmacies
  • Ebn Sina Group of Pharmacies
  • Aksyr Al Hyah Pharmacy
  • Health & Life Pharmacy
  • Value Pharmacy
  • Diplomat Pharmacy
  • Ibn Khaldoon Pharmacy
  • Qatar Pharmacy
  • Ebn Nafees Pharmacy

Conditions which pharmacies should follow while selling masks to residents / citizens

  • The person must be at least 21 years old
  • The masks are sold according to the QID card number
  • The share allocated to each QID is 20 masks for the price of 40 Qatari Riyals

Source: MOCI Qatar | Cover image used is just for representation and not the actual.

16000 will also continue to provide a 24/7 call centre service for all enquiries in relation to the COVID-19. 

Also Read:

EHTERAZ – Smartphone app to help better identify COVID-19 transmission chains

EHTERAZ – Smartphone app to help better identify COVID-19 transmission chains

H.E. Lolwah Al Khater, the Official Spokesperson of the Supreme Committee for Crisis Management yesterday during a press conference announced the preventive measures implemented in Qatar to limit the spread of Coronovirus COVID-19.

It was announced that a new mobile application called “EHTERAZ”, meaning “precaution” will be launched soon. This will be compatible to Apple iOS and Android smartphones. EHTERAZ helps individuals and medical teams better identify COVID-19 transmission chains and accelerates medical help stated during the press conference. EHTERAZ is a collaborative work by the Ministry of Transport and Communications and the Ministry of Public Health.

EHTERAZ is an application for smartphones that uses a GPS feature and Bluetooth to perform various services, and it aims to:

  1. Enhance preventive measures and to limit the spread of COVID-19 in the State of Qatar
  2. Display the latest developments and official statistics related to the coronavirus
  3. Receive awareness and precautionary instructions issued by the official authorities

EHTERAZ application will feature an indicator, indicating health status of everyone around us. The profile of each user is linked to the QR code by automatically extracting the user’s health information from the official bodies according to the below categories – Red, Yellow, Grey, and Green.

  • Red: For people who have been tested and had tested positive for COVID-19
  • Yellow: Individuals who have been placed in the quarantine facilities
  • Grey: Suspected cases, individuals who exhibit symptoms, or who have been in contact with COVID-19 Positive cases but have not been tested
  • Green: Healthy individuals who do not exhibit any symptoms, or who have tested negative


16000 will also continue to provide a 24/7 call centre service for all enquiries in relation to the COVID-19. 

Source: Twitter – H.E. Lolwah Al Khater, the Official Spokesperson of the Supreme Committee for Crisis Management

Also Read:

Government agencies to reduce the number of employees present at the workplace | Private sectors – 80% to work from home and reduce workers at workplace to 20%  | Six working hours per day at workplace | 7:00 am – 1:00 pm | Meeting rules for employees and workers | Use Technology | No more than (5) persons

New restrictions are in place for visitors to HMC hospitals and facilities

New restrictions are in place for visitors to HMC hospitals and facilities

In light of the rapidly evolving COVID-19 pandemic, Qatar has taken many preventive measures to limit the spread of Coronavirus COVID-19. As a part of that, Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) has placed new restrictions for visitors to HMC Hospitals and facilities in Qatar. According to the announcement on the HMC twitter handle, it has placed below changes in visitor polices for some of HMC hospitals and facilities.

No visitors are allowed at any time at:

  • Hazm Mebaireek General Hospital
  • Mesaieed Hospital
  • The Cuban Hospital
  • All Enaya facilities
  • All areas classified as COVID-19 facilities

For all other hospital facilities:

  • Visiting hours have been restricted from 12 noon to 8 pm only
  • Only one(1) visitor at a time for a maximum of 15 minutes
  • Visitors must comply with all the hospital guidelines for personal protective equipment and hand hygiene

HMC on its tweet stated that “These changes have been made in order to protect patients receiving care from the spread of COVID-19,”.


16000 will also continue to provide a 24/7 call centre service for all enquiries in relation to the COVID-19. 

Source: HMC

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PHCC Medication Home Delivery Service: Communicate over WhatsApp numbers of health centers – Contact the respect health center numbers. They are open from 8 am to 2 pm and from 4 pm to 10 pm (Sunday to Thursday)

Government agencies to reduce the number of employees present at the workplace | Private sectors – 80% to work from home and reduce workers at workplace to 20%  | Six working hours per day at workplace | 7:00 am – 1:00 pm | Meeting rules for employees and workers | Use Technology | No more than (5) persons

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