Covid-19 restrictions are back

Covid-19 restrictions are back. PICTURE: Noushad Thekkayil

The restrictions announced by the Cabinet last Wednesday to curb the spread of Covid-19 came into effect on Friday and will remain in place until further notice.   These include, among others, a reduction in Doha Metro and public transport capacity to 20% on Fridays and Saturdays; closure of driving schools; closure of health clubs and physical training clubs (except gyms in hotels for guests); limiting outdoor gatherings to five people and no wedding parties indoors or outdoors; reduction in cinema capacity to 20%; not allowing social gatherings in homes or majlises; closure of all swimming pools and water parks; closure of playgrounds and exercise equipment at public parks, beaches and the Corniche; closure of amusement parks and all entertainment centres; reducing the capacity of commercial complexes/malls to 30%, not allowing children under 12 years there, closing all prayer areas in such complexes, continuing to close all food courts inside them and allowing outlets there to make home deliveries and accept pickup orders; restaurants and cafes registered with the Qatar Clean programme operating at 50% of their capacity outdoors, remaining restaurants and cafes operating at 30% of their capacity outdoors and limiting indoor dining to 15% of the capacity for all restaurants and cafes.