DOHA: Doha Festival City (DHFC) has introduced new safety measures for prayer rooms, food courts and fitting rooms as Qatar entered Phase 4 of the gradual lifting of coronavirus restrictions on 1 September,
To ensure minimising the risks for customers when using the fitting rooms, a maximum of three items will be allowed to try on per shopper across all of the retail stores.
All unpurchased items will be sanitised and put back on display after 24 hours only. DHFC’s store personnel will encourage customers to minimise touching of surfaces and to sanitise hands before and after the use of the fitting rooms.
Food courts
As North and South food courts have reopened, DHFC has put in place several measures to ensure the safety of all customers while they enjoy their dining experience.
A maximum of five people will be able to share one food court table, with an exception for families. Dedicated security agents will ensure social distancing guidelines are respected and an organised queuing system will be put in place.
Vox Cinema
Vox Cinema has now reopened its doors to the public aged 18 years and above. Vox has implemented stringent protocol, including regular auditorium disinfection with fogging machines, enhanced cleaning of all surfaces, mandatory face masks, gloves and temperature checks for the cinema’s employees and other cleanliness procedures.
With auditorium capacity reduced, the seats next to, in front and behind customers’ selection will remain empty. Vox encourages its customers to enjoy the queue-less experience for tickets and food and beverage by placing orders online. In addition to instructional signage, Vox will place safe distancing ambassadors who will advise quests on distancing practices to adopt.
Prayer rooms
Prayer rooms at the mall have also reopened and will host Friday prayers, following the safety protocols provided by the Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs, as well as DHFC’s supplementary measures.
In addition to mandatory face masks and Ehteraz app checks operated at the mall’s entrances, a full set of hygiene equipment will be available at the prayer rooms, including hand sanitisers and dryers, disposable prayer mats and bins, while slippers, previously provided by the mall, will be removed.
The capacity will be monitored by the mall’s security personnel during each prayer and housekeeping staff will be present to assist guests with the hygiene requirements. Safety and social distancing signage will be installed at the entrance and on the floor of prayer rooms and entry points to ablution areas will be closed to avoid any unwarranted access.
Government directives
DHFC will now welcome children and will organise distribution of kids masks as required at all check-up entrances. “While we are excited with the gradual return of normality and welcoming back visitors of all ages to the Mall, we are entirely committed to supporting the government’s directives and safety measures to ensure safety of all our visitors,” DHFC General Manager Robert Hall said.
In line with preventive measures set out by the authorities, DHFC has introduced stringent health and safety measures throughout the mall for its staff and visitors.
This includes a thorough mall disinfection treatment on a weekly basis, robust cleaning and sanitisation operations during mall trading hours and 127 hand sanitising stations installed in the areas that have commonly touched surfaces.
Mall and shop entrances
At the entrance to the mall and all shops, visitors must show their green Ehteraz QR code, and should wear a face mask during their whole time in the mall. Physical distancing stickers in common queuing areas, such as ATM machines, banks, telecommunication kiosks and branches and various retail shops have been installed to help shoppers keep the required physical distance as set forth in the guidelines by the authorities.
Stores will provide sanitisers on entry and at cash points to ensure the highest level of hygiene.