New COVID-19 precautionary measures in Qatar effective Jan 8

Qatar COVID-19 measures 2022

Qatar Cabinet has announced today a new set of coronavirus (COVID-19) measures to come into force from Saturday, January 8, 2022, until further notice.

The Prime Minister and Minister of Interior H E Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Al Thani presided over the regular meeting of the Cabinet this afternoon at the Amiri Diwan. 

To combat the rapidly rising Covid-19 cases, Qatar Cabinet decided on the following:

Workplace

1- Allowing all employees will continue to work from their workplace in public and private sectors.

2- To allow meetings for employees and workers in government and private sectors at their workplace with no more than 15 people who have received Covid-19 vaccine.

3- All employees and workers who did not receive Covid-19 vaccine in public and private sectors need to do a rapid antigen test weekly. Employees and workers who have completed doses of the Covid-19 vaccine and recovered from the Covid-19 don’t need do the test.

Facemasks

4- Wear masks in all open and closed public places, with the exception of people who practice sports in open places.

Ehteraz App

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

Social Gathering

6- Continuing to open mosques to perform daily duties and Friday prayers, while not allowing entry to children under 12 years old, 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 as determined by the Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs .

7- Continuing to allow social gatherings in homes and majlis according to the following: 
A- Maximum of 10 people, who have completed vaccine doses in closed spaces of homes and majlis, with the exception of family members residing in the home itself.
B- Maximum of 15 people, who have completed vaccine doses, in open spaces of homes and majlis with the exception of family members residing in the same house.

8- Wedding parties can be held in wedding halls of hotels and independent wedding halls only and with maximum 40 people, who are vaccinated.
B - The presence of no more than 50% of the capacity in open wedding hall with a maximum of 80 people

9- 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. It is allowed to practice individual sports such as walking, running and cycling. Allowing opening of playgrounds and sports equipment in those places, and allowing the opening of beaches. Capacity not to exceed 75% and to allow opening of toilets in the gardens specified by the Ministry of Municipality.

Transportation

10- Oblige all citizens, residents and visitors when leaving and moving for any reason not to have more than four people in the vehicle, including the driver of the vehicle, with the exception of family members residing in the same house when leaving and moving vehicles.

11- People transported by buses should not exceed 60% of the bus's capacity, while taking precautionary measures and measures.

12- Operation of metro services and public transport services with 60% of capacity throughout the week, while continuing to close places designated for smoking, and not allowing food and drink in the mentioned means of transport.

13- To allow opening of driving schools and to provide their services with a capacity not exceeding 50%, provided that all trainers and trainees are vaccinated.

Cinemas

14- To allow the opening of theaters and cinemas and the provision of their services not exceeding 50% of the capacity provided that all visitors have completed vaccine doses.

Education

15- To allow educational centers and private training centers to provide their services with a capacity not exceeding 50% and a maximum of 50 people in one hall, provided that all trainers and trainees have completed doses of the Covid-19 vaccine.

16- To allow opening of nurseries and providing their services with 50% capacity, provided that all workers who start work in nurseries are vaccinated.

17- Allowing the opening of museums and public libraries with a full capacity, provided that all visitors to those museums and public libraries have completed doses of the Covid-19 vaccine.

18- To allow educational sessions to be held in centers designated for people with special needs, with no more than 5 people in one session, provided that all trainers are vaccinated.

Sports

19- To allow professional sports training, whether in indoor or open places, and allowing preparatory training for local and international tournaments approved by the Ministry of Public Health and allowing training for age groups from 18 years and under for Qatari sports clubs and federations, with a maximum of 40 people in open spaces and 30 people in indoor places, who have completed doses of the Covid-19 vaccine, with no fans allowed, and suspension of training for children under 12 years old in private clubs.

20- To allow the organization of local and international sporting events after obtaining the approval of the Ministry of Public Health, and allowing the presence of fans with no more than 50% of the capacity, provided that they are vaccinated, and allowing the presence of 30% of capacity in indoor places, provided that they are vaccinated, and the suspension of local and special sports leagues and tournaments for age groups and adults, and the suspension of community sports tournaments and activities.

Exhibitions

21- Continuing to allow the organization of conferences, exhibitions and events in accordance with the following:
A- A capacity not exceeding 50% in open spaces.
B - Capacity not exceeding 30%, in closed places.
In all cases, prior approval from the Ministry of Public Health is required before holding any conference, exhibition or event, and that all organizers and participants in such conferences, exhibitions and events have completed doses of the Covid-19 vaccine.

Malls and Shops

22- To allow the work of malls and commercial complexes with a capacity not exceeding 75%, while allowing entry to those who have completed vaccination and allowing opening of food courts within the commercial complexes, provided that it does not exceed 30% of the capacity of those squares. Allowing the opening of worship areas, changing rooms and toilets in those complexes, with all shops in those complexes adhering to the maximum number of customers allowed in them, which is determined by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

Restaurants and Cafes

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

A- A capacity not exceeding 75% for restaurants and cafes that have the “Qatar Clean” certificate, and capacity that does not exceed 40% for restaurants and cafes that meet the conditions determined by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, in open spaces.

B - A capacity that does not exceed 50% for restaurants and cafes that have a Qatar Clean certificate and a capacity card that does not exceed 30% for restaurants and cafes that meet the conditions determined by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, provided that all customers have completed vaccine doses. and allow entry to children under 12 years of age only accompanied by their families, in closed spaces.
In all cases, all workers in those facilities must be vaccinated.

Tours

24- To allow charter services of tourist boats and yachts and pleasure boats, provided that all workers in those boats and yachts have completed doses of the Covid-19 vaccine, and that the number of passengers on these boats and yachts does not exceed 30% of its capacity and a maximum of 15 individuals who are vaccinated. Owners of personal boats and yachts, if using, are obligated not to have more than 12 people on board, with the exception of family members residing in the same house.

Markets

25- Allowing traditional souqs to operate on all days of the week, with a capacity not exceeding 75%, and allowing children to enter, inside all stores in those markets adhering to the maximum number of customers allowed, as determined by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
26- Continuing the work of wholesale markets with a capacity not exceeding 75%, and allowing entry to those who have completed doses of the Covid-19 vaccine, with all stores in those markets adhering to the maximum number of customers allowed in them, which is determined by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, and allowing auctions to be held in those markets.

Salons

27. Continuing to allow the opening of beauty and hairdressing salons with a capacity not exceeding 50%, provided that all workers in those facilities and clients are vaccinated.

Parks and Entertainment Centers
28. Continuing to allow the opening of amusement parks and all entertainment centers according to the following: 
A. Capacity not exceeding 75% for amusement parks and recreational centers in open spaces.
B. Capacity not exceeding 50% for amusement parks and recreational centers in closed places, and allowing entry to customers who have completed vaccination.
In all cases, all employees of these facilities must have completed doses of the Covid-19 vaccine.

Gyms and Health Clubs

29. Continuing to allow the opening of health clubs, physical training clubs and massage services, not exceeding 50% of the capacity, with closure of dressing rooms, showers, saunas, steam, jacuzzi services, Moroccan and Turkish baths, provided that all workers in those facilities and clients are vaccinated.

Pools and Water Parks

30- Continuing to allow opening of swimming pools and water parks according to the following: 
A- A capacity not exceeding 75% for all swimming pools and water parks in open spaces.
B- A capacity not exceeding 50% for all indoor swimming pools and water parks and allowing entry to customers who are fully vaccinated.
In all cases, all employees of these facilities must have completed doses of Covid-19 vaccine.

Private Health Care Centers

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

Cleaning and Hospitality

32. Continuing to allow cleaning and hospitality companies to provide their services through their vaccinated workers, whether in one or more homes, and allowing cleaning and hospitality services to be provided to the facilities contracting with them during working hours with a full capacity, through their vaccinated.
Second: Compliance with the health requirements, procedures, precautionary measures and controls determined by the Ministry of Public Health shall be taken into consideration.

Third: 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.

Fourth: These decisions shall come into force from Saturday, January 8, 2022, until further notice.