Residents have praised the step taken by a number of malls and superstores to restrict entry into their premises to only those who are using the Ehteraz mobile phone app in a bid to protect their customers and staff from the virus and to contribute to the national efforts to curb the pandemic.

Visitors to these malls and hypermarkets have to show their health status displayed on the virus-tracking app. People who are supposed to be in quarantine or are suspected or confirmed to be infected with COVID-19 might be refused entry by the staff.

A number of people The Peninsula spoke with lauded this step, saying this will have an important role in controlling the pandemic. People should adhere to the State’s directives and precautionary measures to limit the spread of the coronavirus, they said.

“It is important for people to see the app messages and warning alerts that the application sends in case they come into contact with a person infected with the virus,” said Ahmed, a resident.

“I visited one of the malls recently and I saw people lining up in a queue. They were asked if they have Ehteraz app or not. Those who didn’t have the app installed and activated were not allowed to enter.”

After registering in the application, the profile of each user is linked to a code which is also linked to his health file with the competent authorities. The green colour code shows the person is healthy; yellow colour means the person is in quarantine; the red means the person is infected; while the grey colour shows the person is suspected to be infected.

Another resident, Bahi Oumar, said the application helps to protect the community. It is a good initiative, especially because people can do their shopping while they are reassured that they are not in contact with infected people.

The step by the commercial complexes will encourages everyone to install the application, he added.

However, the problem is that those holding a visiting visa cannot install and activate the app because the activation requires a valid Qatari ID number. Also there are many workers who cannot buy smartphones to install the app.