Cabinet eases COVID-19 restrictions as virus cases continue to fall in Qatar

Latest Announcements by Qatar Cabinet on COVID-19 restrictions

In the past few days, Qatar has seen continuous decrease in its record of coronavirus (Covid-19) cases. New community Covid-19 cases continue to fall in Qatar and recoveries are gradually picking up.

There was a sharp fall in community Covid-19 cases in the country yesterday with 2,204 reported Covid-19 cases and 3,985 recovered cases.

As part of the revised measures to limit the virus spread, the Cabinet has relaxed some COVID-19 restrictions and decided to allow children to enter mosques, malls, wholesale markets, cinemas, museums and public libraries.

People who haven’t received the full course of the COVID-19 vaccination too are allowed to enter commercial complexes.

The Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister and Minister of Interior HE Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Al Thani, took the decision after it listened to the explanation given by HE Minister of Public Health on the latest developments to limit the spread of the COVID-19.

Also, the Cabinet reviewed the report of the Supreme Committee for Crisis Management in this regard, and in the interest of the health and safety of all members of society.

The decisions will come into effect from Saturday (January 29) until further notice.

The Cabinet decided the following:

1. The continuation of all employees in both the government and private sectors to carry out their work at their place of work.

2. Continuing to allow meetings to be held for employees in the government and private sectors who are at their workplace in the presence of no more than 30 people who have completed COVID-19 vaccine doses, provided that the rest of the meetings are held remotely via videoconferencing.

3. Continuing to oblige all employees in the governmental and private sectors to conduct a rapid COVID-19 test (Rapid Antigen) approved by the Ministry of Public Health, on a weekly basis, for employees who did not receive or complete the COVID-19 vaccine doses.
Employees, who have completed the COVID-19 vaccine doses and those who have recovered from the disease, are exempted from conducting this examination.

4. Continuing the obligation to wear masks in all open and closed public places, with the exception of people who practice sports in open places.

5. Continuing to obligate all citizens, residents and visitors to activate the Ehteraz application on smart phones when leaving the house for any reason.

6. Continuing to open mosques to perform daily prayers and Friday prayer, and allow children to enter, while adhering to the precautionary measures determined by the Ministry of Public Health and the Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs, and allowing the opening of toilets and ablution facilities in mosques determined by the Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs.

7. Continuing to allow social gatherings in homes and majlises according to the following:

A - The presence of a maximum of 10 people who have completed the COVID-19 vaccine doses in closed places in homes and majlises, with the exception of family members residing in the same house.

B - The presence of a maximum of 15 people, who have completed the COVID-19 vaccine doses in open spaces in homes and majlises, with the exception of family members residing in the same house.

8. Continuing to allow wedding parties to be held in wedding halls in hotels and independent wedding halls only, and for people who have completed the COVID-19 vaccine doses, according to the following:

A - The presence of not more than 30 percent of the capacity of the closed wedding hall, with a maximum of 40 people.
B - The presence of not more than 50 percent of the capacity of the open wedding hall, with a maximum of 80 people.

9. Continuing to allow gatherings or sitting in public parks, beaches and the Corniche with a maximum of 15 people or family members residing in the same house, allowing to practice individual sports such as walking, running and cycling, allowing the opening of playgrounds and sports equipment in those places, allowing the opening of private beaches with a maximum of 75 percent the capacity, and allowing the opening of toilets in the parks specified by the Ministry of Municipality.

10. Continuing to oblige all citizens, residents and visitors to a maximum of four people in the vehicle, including the driver of the vehicle, when leaving and moving for any reason, with the exception of family members residing in the same house.

11. Continuing to allow people to be transported by buses with a maximum 75 percent capacity, while taking precautionary measures.

12. Continuing the operation of metro services and public transport services with a maximum 75 percent capacity throughout the week, with the continued closure of places designated for smoking and not allowing food and drink in the mentioned means of transport.

13. Continuing to allow driving schools to operate and provide services as follows:

A - A full capacity if 75 percent or more of the total number of trainees have completed the COVID-19 vaccine doses.
B - A capacity that does not exceed 75 percent if the percentage of trainees who have completed doses of the COVID-19 vaccine is less than 75 percent of the total number of trainees.

In all cases, all employees working in the school must complete doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, while obligating all trainees who did not complete or did not receive the COVID-19 vaccine doses, to take a Rapid Antigen test approved by the Ministry of Public Health.

14. Continuing to allow the opening of theaters and cinemas and the provision of their services with a maximum 50 percent capacity, provided that 75 percent of the customers have completed doses of COVID-19 vaccine, and allowing children under the age of 12 to enter and counting them among the 25 percent allowed for those who did not complete or did not receive doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.

15. Educational centres and private training centres can continue to provide their services at a maximum 75 percent capacity and with full capacity if 75 percent of the trainees have completed doses of COVID-19 vaccine, with all the instructors working at these centers have completed the COVID-19 vaccine doses, while obligating trainees who did not receive or complete the doses of the COVID-19 vaccines to carry out a rapid antigen test accredited by the MOPH.

16. Continuing to allow nurseries to open and provide their services at a maximum 75 percent capacity, provided that all workers have completed the COVID-19 vaccine doses.

17. Continuing to allow museums and public libraries to continue operating with a full capacity, allowing entry to everyone, whether those who have completed the COVID-19 vaccine doses or not, and allowing entry to children.

18. Continuing to allow centers for people with disabilities to provided their services with a maximum of five people per session, provided that all workers have completed the COVID-19 vaccine doses.

19. Continuing to allow professional sports training both indoors and outdoors, permitting preparatory training for local and international tournaments approved by the MOPH, allowing training of age groups (18 and under) with a maximum capacity of 40 persons outdoors, and 30 persons indoors, provided that all have completed the doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, with no public attendance, and suspending the training of children under 12 years of age in private clubs.

20. Continuing to allow the hosting of local and international sporting events after obtaining the approval of the MoPH, with the presence of fans not surpassing the 50 percent capacity in outdoor venues, provided that they all completed the doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, and allowing the presence of a maximum 30 percent capacity of the fans in closed places, provided that they have completed the doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, and suspending the local and private sports leagues and tournaments for all age groups as well as community sports tournaments and activities.

21. Continuing to allow the organization of conferences, exhibitions, and events in accordance with the following:

A - A capacity not exceeding 50 percent in open spaces.

B - A capacity not exceeding 30 percent in closed places.

In all cases, prior approval from the Ministry of Public Health is required before holding any conference, exhibition or event, provided that all organisers and participants in such conferences, exhibitions and events have completed the COVID-19 vaccine doses.

22. Continuing to allow the work of commercial complexes with a full capacity, and to allow the entry of everyone, whether those who have completed doses of the COVID-19 vaccine or not, and to allow the entry of children, and to allow the opening of common restaurant areas within the commercial complexes, not exceeding 50 percent of the capacity, allowing the opening of mosques, changing rooms and toilets in those complexes, with all shops adhering to those measures.

23. Continuing to allow restaurants and cafes to serve food and beverages according to the following:

A - In outdoor spaces, a full capacity for restaurants and cafes that have the Qatar Clean certificate and a maximum capacity of 50 percent for restaurants and cafes that meet the conditions determined by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

B - In indoor places, a maximum capacity of 75 percent for restaurants and cafes that have the Qatar Clean certificate, and a maximum capacity of 40 percent for restaurants and cafes that meet the conditions determined by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, provided that all customers have completed the COVID-19 vaccine doses, and allow entry to children under 12 years of age accompanied by their families only.

In all cases, all workers in those facilities must have completed doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.

24. Continuing to allow the opening of rental services of boats, tourist yachts and pleasure boats, provided that all workers have completed doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, and that the number of passengers on these boats and yachts does not exceed 30 percent of its capacity with a maximum of 15 people who have completed doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. Owners of boats and personal yachts are obligated not to have more than 12 people on board, with the exception of family members residing in the same house.

25. Allowing popular markets to operate every day with a full capacity, allowing children to enter, with all stores in those markets adhering to the maximum number of customers allowed to be there, which is determined by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

26. Continuing the functioning of wholesale markets at a capacity not exceeding 75 percent, and allowing to everyone, whether those who have completed doses of the COVID-19 vaccine or not, allowing children to enter. All stores must adhere to the maximum number of customers allowed inside, which is determined by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, and allowing auctions to be held in those markets.

27. Continuing to allow the opening of beauty and hairdressing salons with a capacity not exceeding 50 percent, provided that all workers in those facilities and clients have completed doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, and allowing the entry of children, taking into account that there are no more than two children under 12 years at the same time in those salons.

28. Continuing to allow the opening of amusement parks and all entertainment centres according to the following:

A - A capacity not exceeding 75 percent in open spaces.
B - A capacity not exceeding 50 percent in closed places, provided that 75 percent of the customers have completed doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, and allowing entry of children under 12 years, accompanied by their families only, and counting them within the percentage of 25 percent allowed for those who did not complete or did not receive doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.

In all cases, all employees of these facilities must have completed doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.

29. Continuing to allow the opening of health clubs, physical training clubs, and massage services, not exceeding 75 percent of the capacity, with the closure of saunas, steam rooms, Moroccan and Turkish baths and allowing the opening of changing rooms, showers, and jacuzzi services, provided that all employees of these facilities and customers have completed doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.

30. Continuing to allow the opening of swimming pools and water parks according to the following:

A - A capacity not exceeding 75 percent in open spaces.
B - A capacity not exceeding 50 percent in closed places, provided that 75 percent of the customers who have completed doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, and allowing entry to children under 12 years, accompanied by their families only, and counting them within the percentage of 25 percent allowed for those who did not complete or did not receive doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.

In all cases, all employees of these facilities must have completed doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.

31. Continuing to allow medical services to be provided in private healthcare facilities with the full capacity, provided that all workers have completed doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.

32. Continuing to allow cleaning and hospitality companies to provide their services through their employees who have completed doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, whether in one or more homes, allowing the provision of cleaning and hospitality services to the facilities contracting with it during working hours with a full capacity, through its employees who have completed doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Compliance with the health requirements, procedures, precautionary measures and controls determined by the Ministry of Public Health shall be taken into consideration.

The Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Public Health, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, and other government agencies, each within its jurisdiction, take the necessary measures in this regard, to ensure compliance with health requirements, precautionary measures and established controls.

The Cabinet took note of what will be issued by the Ministry of Education and Higher Education regarding the attendance rate of students in all public and private schools and kindergartens, and the precautionary measures that will be followed.

Then, the Cabinet considered the topics on the agenda.

The Cabinet approved a draft decision to amend some of the provisions of decision no 2 for 2019 to form and organize the Statistics Advisory Committee.
The committee, established by the Planning and Statistics Authority, is responsible for:

1. Expressing opinions and providing advice on all statistical operations.
2. Suggesting priorities to meet the needs of users of statistical data.
3. Suggesting the necessary annual statistical plans and programs.
4. Providing the required support to improve the statistical work.

The Cabinet approved the draft decision of the Minister of Endowments and Islamic Affairs regarding achieving the transparency requirements for endowments.
It also approved the renewal of the membership term of the National Civil Aviation Security Committee for three years, starting from 11/4/2022.

This committee established in the Civil Aviation Authority is specialized in several specializations, including: developing the general policy for civil aviation security, coordinating between ministries and government agencies and other parties concerned with the implementation of the National Civil Aviation Security Program, defining procedures and issuing necessary instructions to protect civil aviation from acts of unlawful interference and following up on their implementation, and evaluating the standards and procedures in place, in line with technological developments related to civil aviation security and other related technologies.

The Cabinet also approved a draft letter of intent between the Ministry of Municipality in Qatar and the Ministry of Agriculture, Water Resources and Fishing in the Republic of Tunisia.

Source: QNA