Qatar Economic Outlook Issue Number 13

 

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Part 2 - Economic Performance 2017 - 2020 
 
116 
Enforcing the Precautionary 
Measures in Qatar 
In order not to repeat the consequences of 
those people who, during the first wave 
refused to comply with precautionary 
measures in workplaces, social events, 
family visits and gathering places in markets 
and public parks, the relevant authorities 
during the spread of the second wave of the 
virus were not satisfied with merely launching 
awareness campaigns calling on the public to 
adhere to preventive and precautionary 
measures. Rather, it took all measures to 
enforce compliance with the preventive 
measures and referred those who violated 
those measures to the Public Prosecution, as 
shown in Box (2-15)
. 
The number of 
offenders increased during peak infection 
days as Figure (2-58) indicates based on 
data collected from public media, particularly 
the Gulf Times. 
Box 2-15: Trends in the Number of Violators of the Precautionary Measures 
As it is known globally, one of the reasons for the spread and evolution of the Coronavirus is the 
lack of commitment to the preventive and precautionary measures imposed by countries to 
contain the spread of the virus, hence many countries of the world have endorsed disciplinary 
and punitive measures for those who violate the instructions, but the extent of the application of 
these has varied from one country to another according to the extent of the spread of the virus. 
And in the State of Qatar, as in many other countries of the world since the beginning of the crisis 
in March 2020, the competent authorities have utilized a media campaign that explains to the 
public the importance of adhering to the preventive and precautionary measures under the Law 
on Infectious Diseases No (17) of 1990, as well as the precautionary measures in place to ensure 
their safety and the safety of others in accordance with the instructions of successive Cabinet 
decisions . 
From the beginning, the competent authorities carried out the task of monitoring people who did 
not adhere to the instructions and were referred to the Public Prosecutor on charges of flouting 
preventive measures, such as not wearing masks in places where they are mandatory, not 
maintaining a safe physical distance, violating quarantine requirements, and not installing the 
Ehteraz application. Further violations include gathering in parks and the Corniche, as well as the 
violation of the vehicle occupancy rule, such as the number of passengers on public and private 
transportation, which states that a maximum of four people - including the driver - are allowed to 
ride in cars.