BUSINESS | Page 1 QATAR | Page 16 Qatar automobile sector Supermarkets have posts 6% growth in January adequate supplies published in QATAR since 1978 SATURDAY Vol. XXXXI No. 11494 March 21, 2020 Rajab 26, 1441 AH GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals Amir congratulates Tunisian president His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and His Highness the Deputy Amir Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad al-Thani sent Ministry sets yesterday cables of congratulations to Tunisian President Kais Saied on his country’s independence anniversary. HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz al-Thani also sent a similar cable of prices for fi sh, congratulations to Prime Minister Elyes Fakhfakh. Initiative to help ease fl ow of goods fruits, veggies to Industrial Area arious government depart- laws and regulations applicable in sanitising items in the market with a ments have stepped up their the country. full list of such products, alongside The Qatar Chamber’s Emergency Veff orts to control the spread All retail outlets and other shops the maximum permitted price and Committee has set up an online of the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) throughout the country will have to description and quantity of each type application form that companies among Qatar residents and taken abide by prices indicated in the lists and brand. could use to assist them when necessary measures to curb any at- issued by the MoCI yesterday. The MoCI has issued a circular to all transporting goods to and from the tempts by retailers to exploit the ex- MoCI had earlier pointed out that it retailers and shops in the country to Industrial Area. The initiative was pected increase in demand for diff er- will intensify inspections to exercise strictly abide by the set health pre- among the topics discussed by the ent consumer and food items. tighter control on the local market cautionary measures to guarantee committee yesterday during its first Accordingly, the Ministry of Com- and ensure that consumers get all the the full safety and protection of both meeting, which sought mechanisms merce and Industry (MoCI) issued necessary services and goods at the their staff and customers against any on the committee’s work as a focal two decisions yesterday. The fi rst is announced prices, and curb any at- chances of transmitting Covid-19 point between the private sector to set the maximum permitted retail tempts to exceed the permitted rea- and limit its spread. and the Supreme Committee for prices for fruits and vegetables, and sonable rates. In the meantime, the Ministry of Crisis Management. the second for locally produced fi sh In case any retailer or shop is spot- Municipality and Environment’s Ag- The meeting outlined the chamber’s Qatar sends second and seafood in the local market. ted attempting to violate these deci- riculture Aff airs Department has kept eff orts to ensure the uninterrupted The decisions are applicable un- sions, a violation report will be issued the fi ve yards for selling local agricul- flow of food and other essential til March 31, and can be extended by the MoCI department concerned ture products operational all days of supplies to people in the locked-down further if required. The MoCI af- and all the necessary legal procedures the week, instead of the earlier three communities of Industrial Area. shipment of urgent firmed that any violations of such taken accordingly in co-operation days, to give consumers full and easy According to the committee, the decisions or failing to abide by the with the relevant entities. access to reasonably priced, high application form was developed set maximum price for such items On Wednesday MoCI issued a re- quality fresh products with uninter- to help ease the flow of goods to would entail the violators all the lated decision setting the maximum rupted supply of good quantities di- Industrial Area. The chamber will medical aid to Iran penalties stipulated by the related retail price for all disinfectant and rectly from the local farms daily. collect the data from the application forms and statements will be sent electronically to the Ministry atar, represented by Qatar Fund Qatar’s assistance to combat Cov- of Commerce and Industry for for Development and Qatar id-19 comes as a matter of joint re- approval. To page 16 QAirways, sent the second ship- sponsibility in fi ghting the pandemic, ment of urgent medical aid to Iran to a common threat facing the entire Thundery rain, strong fi ght the spread of the novel coronavi- world. 10 citizens held for violating wind expected today rus (Covid-19) epidemic. The second shipment of seven Qatar’s ambassador to Iran, Mo- tonnes contains medical equip- Thundery rain and strong wind hamed bin Hamad al-Hajri, said that ment and supplies, including masks, can be expected at places at times this was not the fi rst time Qatar is pro- sterilisers, and medical disinfect- home quarantine conditions inshore in Qatar today, Met off ice viding assistance to Iran. Qatar had ants. The first shipment, which was said yesterday. The off shore forecast sent aid during the earlier fl oods and transported on March 13, included is thundery rain, strong wind earthquakes. six tonnes of medical equipment and QNA rahim al-Mansouri, Joma’ Marzouq which included fi ve Qatari citizens, and high sea. The minimum and He added that the assistance will supplies. Doha Daham al-Nasser, Mohamed Johar were travellers who arrived recently maximum temperatures expected continue until the end of epidemic as Iran has reported one of the highest Mudaihi al-Abdullah, Said Abdulaziz from the UK and Switzerland, ac- are 20C and 31C, respectively. Qatar will spare no eff ort in helping Covid-19 deaths and infections in the Saoud Tuwaim and Hamad Ali Mo- cording to a ministry statement. They friendly nations. Middle East. (QNA) Page 2 en Qatari citizens, who vio- hamed Assad Hashem. have been quarantined. Italy virus toll hits lated the conditions of the The authorities called on citizens The ministry also continues to re- one-day record Thome quarantine affi davits and residents under home quaran- search and investigate those in con- they signed as part of the Covid-19 tine to fully abide by the Ministry tact with new cases and conduct the Italy reported a dramatic surge in Driving schools’ training, tests suspended precautionary measures in Qatar, of Public Health’s conditions, to necessary checks for all citizens who coronavirus deaths yesterday as the have been arrested and referred to the ensure their safety and the safety of have recently travelled back to the pandemic spread further across the The Ministry of Interior, represented training and driving tests in schools. Public Prosecution. others. country and are subject to quarantine planet, but Wuhan in China reported by the General Directorate of Traff ic, However, trainees can follow their Legal procedures will be taken The statement stressed that every- either in a hotel or their home. no new cases, sparking a glimmer of has suspended driving schools’ theory lessons through the applica- against them, the Ministry of Public one who violates the condition is sub- z Aspire Zone Foundation (AZF) hope. Worldwide fatalities from the activities, whether training or driving tion (Driver Guide) on smart de- Health (MoPH) announced. ject to the penalties stated in Article has discontinued takeaway orders pandemic swept past 10,000, with the tests, as of tomorrow until further vices, which include training videos The ministry said that the violators No 253 of Criminal Law No 11 of 2014, from food trucks for two weeks from number of infected people topping notice. distributed over five days with the are: Law No 17 of 1990 on protection from today (March 21, Saturday), as part of 250,000, according to an AFP tally. In a statement, the General Direc- availability of tests to ensure that the Ali Kamel Youssef al-Hashmi, Fahd infectious diseases, and Law No 17 of eff orts being undertaken by Qatar to Italy added another 627 fatalities, torate of Traff ic said that in view trainee passes and fully understands Hassan Ayedh al-Qahtani, Abdullah 2002 on protecting the society. contain the novel coronavirus (Cov- taking its reported total past 4,000 of the health and precautionary daily lessons during the mentioned Taleb Ibrahim al-Ansari, Mohamed Meanwhile, the health ministry an- id-19) outbreak, it was announced despite government eff orts to stem measures, it was decided to suspend period. Ahmed Mohamed Assad Hashem, Ali nounced 10 new confi rmed Covid-19 yesterday. This measure is extend- the pandemic’s spread. Saleh Ali al-Yafei, Ibrahim Salah Ib- cases in the country. The new cases, able, according to a tweet from AZF. Field hospital for virus patients Qmic studies how to use digital tools to fi ght Covid-19 By Joseph Varghese “We are assessing and investi- be in the form of providing localised Staff Reporter gating how to use our IoT (Inter- information or alerts or guidance. net of Things) technology knowl- Nothing concrete has been developed edge and digital platforms and as of now. We are exploring all pos- atar Mobility Innovation Cen- applications to support the com- sibilities and our scientists are work- tre (Qmic), Qatar’s First Tech- munity and the country at large. ing on it. But then accessing relevant Qnology Innovations Institu- In particular, we are looking into data is the key factor in this,” Dr Abu- tion, is exploring development of new re-purposing our extensive Wain Dayya said. tools by utilising its existing digital Mobile platform with new content The offi cial noted that AI (artifi - platforms and services to assist the and capabilities to support the na- cial intelligence) and IoT can be used government and the community to tional effort in tackling the impact to support in tracking the disease, fi ght the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) of this Virus.