Antigen test required for unvaccinated people in Qatar to visit public places starting 12 March 2022

Rapid Antigen Test required for Unvaccinated people for visiting Public places in Qatar

His Excellency Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Al Thani, Prime Minister and Minister of Interior chaired the regular meeting held by the Council on 9 March 2022 at its headquarters in the Amiri Diwan.

At the beginning of the meeting, the Council of Ministers listened to the explanation given by Her Excellency Dr. Hanan bint Muhammad Al Kuwari, Minister of Public Health, on the latest developments and developments to limit the spread of COVID-19, and after reviewing the report of the Supreme Committee for Crisis Management regarding the plan to gradually lift the imposed restrictions. Due to the pandemic, it has decided the following:

These decisions shall come into force as of Saturday, 12 March 2022, until further notice.
Current restrictions in place: Here are the latest COVID-19 restrictions in Qatar effective 12 February 2022

1. CLOSED PUBLIC PLACES

Entry to closed public places shall be in accordance with the following:

1. All citizens, residents, and visitors who have completed doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, those recovering from the disease, and people whose health condition prevents them from taking the vaccine, based on a medical report from the authorities determined by the Ministry of Public Health.
2. All citizens, residents and visitors who did not complete or did not receive doses of the COVID-19 vaccine at a rate not exceeding (20%) of the capacity after conducting a rapid test for the COVID-19 Rapid Antigen test as approved by the Ministry of Public Health, for public places enclosed following:
   1. Physical training clubs/ gyms
   2. Wedding parties
   3. Sports events
   4. Conferences, exhibitions and events
   5. Restaurants and cafes
   6. Amusement parks
   7. Swimming pools and water parks
   8. Theatres and cinemas

NOTE: The following points have been updated under CLOSED PUBLIC PLACES as of 12 March 2022:

• Unvaccinated people ages 12 years and older are allowed to enter indoor places after proving a negative result of the rapid antigen test taken during the previous 24 hours (by presenting a certificate or the result of the test in Ehteraz application).
• Children under the age of 12 are allowed to enter without the need for a rapid antigen test.

3. Resumption of open buffet services for licensed restaurants.

4. Shisha services may be offered in open spaces of restaurants and cafes in and out of touristic areas.

2. CONFERENCES & EXHIBITIONS

• Adherence to the requirements set by the Ministry of Public Health for holding any conference, exhibition or event.

3. WORKPLACE

• The continuation of all employees in the government sector carrying out their work at their place of work, and allowing all employees in the private sector to carry out their work at their place of work.
• Continuing to oblige all employees and workers in the public and private sectors to conduct a rapid test for COVID-19 Rapid Antigen as approved by the Ministry of Public Health, on a weekly basis, for employees and workers who have not received or completed doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, and they are exempted from conducting that examination. Employees and workers who have completed doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, those who have recovered from the disease and people whose health condition prevents them from taking the vaccine based on a medical report from the authorities determined by the Ministry of Public Health.

4. TRANSPORTATION

• Lifting the restrictions imposed on the absorptive capacity and the permitted number of means of transportation and open and closed public and private places, taking into account the below decision.

5. MASKS

• Obligating all citizens, residents and visitors to wear masks in all closed public places, and not obligating them to wear masks in open public places unless they are within the public activities organized in markets, exhibitions and during events.
• All workers in establishments, whose nature of work requires being in open spaces and communicating with customers, must wear masks during their work period.

6. EHTERAZ STATUS

• Continuing to obligate all citizens, residents and visitors to activate the EHTERAZ application on smartphones when leaving the house for any reason.

7. WEDDINGS

• Continuing to allow wedding parties to take place, taking into account the restrictions imposed on the entry of people who did not complete or did not receive doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Source: QNA | Qatar Cabinet