Qatar- New restrictions for businesses, restaurants, gatherings take effect today

(MENAFN - The Peninsula) As the country is witnessing a surge in daily COVID-19 cases, several precautionary measures will be re-imposed from today (Friday) in accordance with a Cabinet decision announced on Wednesday. The new measures include closure of gyms; not allowing kids under 12 years into malls; reducing capacity in cinemas, museums, indoor restaurants; preventing social gatherings and visits in closed places like homes and Majlis; as well as ban on gatherings of more than five people in open places. In winter camps, only family members residing in the same house are allowed. Playgrounds and exercise equipment in public parks, beaches and the Corniche will be closed with gatherings being restricted to family members residing in the same house or two people at maximum. These precautionary measures will be re-imposed while continuing with most of the other measures in force. The new measures will be in force until further notice. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) has also urged people to maintain ‘bubble system' in order to stop the spread of the virus. A group of people who meet frequently can apply the COVID-19 bubble system by not coming into contact with members of other families or groups as much as possible, the Ministry said in a social media post yesterday. According to the Ministry, friends who meet frequently can also apply this system so that their number remains limited and fixed and they do not come into contact with other people. 'If families and group of friends manage to maintain these bubbles, then we will be able to contain the virus, the post quoted Chairman of the National Pandemic Preparedness Committee Dr. Abdullattif Al Khal as saying. A ‘bubble' is an unofficial term used to describe the cluster of people outside your household with whom you feel comfortable spending time during the pandemic. The Ministry has also reminded the public that it is more important than ever that people adhere to preventive measures. In a press conference on Wednesday, Dr. Al Khal said: 'Over the past two weeks, the COVID-19 situation has become worse as more people fell sick and needed to be admitted to the hospitals with severe illness. In the past week the rate of daily cases has increased, and it is clear that we are in the second wave of the virus. He emphasised that the data and clinical evidence is clear, adding that unless everyone does their part in following restrictions as well as all the preventive measures, the increase in number of new daily cases will not reduce. 'If each and every one of us takes responsibility and acts appropriately over the next two to three weeks, we can cut this virus off and begin to see a big decline in cases, he said. 'We all have an individual responsibility to play our part in getting through this pandemic. Although we are in a better position this year than last year because of the vaccines, at least for now, we must all work together and tighten the measures against COVID19, he added.MENAFN26032021000063011010ID1101814820