Qatar to impose more COVID-19 restrictions from Friday, March 26

HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Al-Thani

Qatar’s Cabinet on Wednesday gave its approval to bring back some of the more stringent COVID-19 restrictions as new cases continue to soar in Qatar. The new restrictions will come into effect on Friday (March 26).

HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Al-Thani chaired Wednesday the Cabinet's regular meeting held at its seat at the Amiri Diwan.

Following the meeting, HE the Minister of Justice and Acting Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Dr. Issa bin Saad Al Jafali Al Nuaimi said the following statement:

At the outset of the meeting, the Cabinet listened to the explanation provided by HE Minister of Public Health on the latest developments to limit the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19), and after reviewing the report of the Supreme Committee for Crisis Management regarding the plan to reimpose restrictions due to the COVID-19 and in the interest of the health and safety of all members of society, he decided the following:

First:

1- Continuing with the Cabinet decision, which stipulates that, according to work needs, no more than 80 percent of the total number of employees in the government sector start working at their workplace, while the remaining number of employees work remotely from their homes or upon request, depending on the circumstances.

2- Continuing with the Cabinet decision, which stipulates that no more than 80 percent of the total number of employees in the private sector working at their workplace, while the remaining number of them work remotely from their homes.

3- To allow meetings to be held with the attendance of no more than 5 people for employees and workers in the government and private sectors, while taking precautionary measures.

4- Continue working with the decision obliging all citizens and residents to wear masks when leaving the house for any reason, unless the person is present by himself while driving the vehicle.

5- Continue working with the decision obliging all citizens and residents to activate EHTERAZ application on smartphones when leaving the house for any reason.

6- Continuing the opening of Mosques for daily prayers and Friday prayers, while toilets and ablution facilities remain closed.

7- Preventing social gatherings and visits in closed places in homes and majlis, and permitting the presence of a maximum of 5 people in open spaces.

8- Winter camps must allow in only family members who live in the same house.

9- Not to hold weddings in closed or open spaces until further notice.

10- Closure of playgrounds and exercise equipment in public parks, beaches and the corniche, with gatherings being restricted to family members residing in the same house or two people as a maximum.

11- Continuing the work of obliging all citizens and residents when leaving and moving for any reason that no more than four people are in the vehicle, including the vehicle's driver, with the exception of family members residing in the same house when leaving and moving in vehicles.

12- Continuing work with the decision reducing the number of people transported by buses to the half of the bus capacity, while taking precautions measures.

13- Continue operating the metro services and public transport with a capacity not exceeding 30 percent, and reduce the capacity for operating these services to 20 percent on Friday and Saturday, taking into account the closure of places designated for smoking, and not allowing food and drink to be consumed in the aforementioned transport.

14- Driving schools closed until further notice.

15- Reducing the capacity of cinemas to 20 percent, not allowing entry to persons under 18 years, and not organizing theatrical performances except after obtaining the approval of the Ministry of Public Health.

16- Allowing private educational and training centers to provide their services through remote communication programs only.

17- Continuing the work of nurseries and childcare facilities with a capacity not exceeding 30 percent.

18- Reducing the capacity of public museums and libraries to 30 percent.

19- Continuing to allow individual educational sessions to be held in centers designated for people with special needs.

20- Not to allow the training of sports teams, whether in closed or open spaces, with the exception of preparatory training for local and international tournaments approved for teams within the bubble system.

21- Obtaining prior approval from the Ministry of Public Health to organize local and international sporting events.

22- Obtaining prior approval from the Ministry of Public Health to hold exhibitions, conferences and various events.

23- Reducing the capacity of commercial complexes to 30 percent, not allowing children under 12 years old to enter, and closing all prayer areas in these complexes, while continuing to close all food courts inside the commercial complexes and allowing these restaurants to make home deliveries and pickup orders.

24- Continuing to allow restaurants and cafes to serve food and drinks according to the following:

- Capacity of not exceeding (15 percent) for all indoor restaurants and cafes.

- Capacity that does not exceed (50 percent) for restaurants and cafes that have a "Clean Qatar" programme certificate, with a capacity that does not exceed (30 percent) for the rest of the restaurants and cafes, in the open spaces.

25- Continuing suspension of the rental services of boats, tourist yachts and pleasure boats, with the exception of rental services for family members residing in the same house, and owners of boats and personal yachts are obligated in the event that they are used that no one but the family members residing in the same house are on board.

26- Reducing the capacity of traditional markets to (30 percent), and not allowing children under (12) years old to enter.

27- Continuing the functioning of wholesale markets at a capacity not exceeding (30 percent), and children under (12) years are not allowed to enter.

28- Continuing the work of beauty and hair salons at a capacity not exceeding (30 percent).

29- Closure of amusement parks and all entertainment centers until further notice.

30- Closing health clubs and physical training clubs, stopping massage services, saunas, steam rooms, Jacuzzi services, and Moroccan and Turkish baths until further notice, with the exception of using gyms in hotels for guests.

31- Closing all swimming pools and water parks until further notice.

32- Reducing the capacity of private health care facilities to (70 percent).

33- Reducing the operational capacity of the services provided by cleaning and hospitality companies during the working hours of the establishments contracted with them to (30 percent), allowing the provision of their services with a full capacity outside the working hours of those facilities, and allowing the provision of their services at houses by one person only.

Second:

The conditions and precautionary measures set by the Ministry of Public Health must be taken into consideration.

Third:

The Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Public Health, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, and other governmental bodies are in charge of taking the necessary measures to ensure adherence to the precautionary measures, all within their powers and jurisdiction.

Fourth:

The decisions will go into effect starting Friday March. 26,2021, until further notice.

The Cabinet noted the continuation of the blended education system in all public and private schools and kindergartens at the current level, and the continuation of the current travel and return policy to the State of Qatar.

Then the Cabinet listened to the presentation made by HE the Minister of Municipality and Environment on international indicators of the environmental performance of the State of Qatar.

After that, the Cabinet considered the topics on the agenda as follows:

First

- Approve a draft law amending some provisions of Law No. (5) of 2015 on Commercial, Industrial and Similar Public Shops, and Street Vendors, and for referring it to the Shura Council.

Second

- Approval of:

1- A draft memorandum of understanding for cooperation in the fields of family affairs and social development between the governments of the State of Qatar and the government of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.

2- A draft agreement between the government of the State of Qatar and the government of the Republic of Estonia regarding the elimination of double taxation in relation to income taxes, prevention of evasion and tax avoidance.

Third

- The Cabinet reviewed the results of the 59th meeting of the Trade Cooperation Committee, and the 47th meeting of the Industrial Co-operation Committee in the GCC, and took the appropriate decision in their regard. (QNA)