Cabinet of Qatar issues directives for gradual lifting of restrictions

Cabinet of Qatar issues directives for gradual lifting of restrictions

The Prime Minister and Minister of Interior HE Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Al Thani chaired the regular Cabinet meeting today through video conferencing.
The decisions shall be effective from Friday, May 28, until further notice.
Following the meeting, Minister of Justice and Acting Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs, H E Dr. Issa bin Saad Al Jafali Al Nuaimi stated the following: 
At the beginning of the meeting, the Cabinet listened to the explanation provided by H E Minister of Public Health on the latest developments to limit the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19). After reviewing the report of the Supreme Committee for Crisis Management regarding the plan to gradually lift the restrictions, the following decisions were taken:

1- No more than 50% of the total number of employees in government sector at workplace, while the rest of the employees work remotely from their homes or on request, according to the circumstances, with the exception of military, security and health sectors.

2 - No more than 50% of the total number of workers in private sector work at their place of work, and remaining undertake their work remotely from their homes, and Ministry of Trade and Industry in coordination with the authorities concerned, identify the necessary activities to be excluded from this decision.

3- Allowing meetings in government and private sectors at workplace with no more than 15 fully-vaccinated people and rest of meetings to be conducted remotely using modern technology.

4- All citizens and residents to wear masks on leaving the house for any reason, unless the person is alone while driving a vehicle or with his family.

5- All citizens and residents need to activate EHTERAZ on their smartphones when leaving the house for any reason.

6- Mosques to open for performing daily and Friday prayers and children under 12 years not allowed to enter. Need to adhere to the precautionary measures set by the Ministry of Public Health and the Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs, with the continued closure of toilets and ablution facilities.

7 – Allowing a maximum of 5 people who have completed doses of the Covid-19 vaccine to gather inside homes and majlis and a maximum of 10 people who have completed doses of the Covid-19 vaccine or 5 people who did not complete or did not receive doses of the Covid 19 vaccine in open spaces in homes and majlis.

8 – Not allowed to hold weddings indoors and outdoors.

9 - Parks, Corniche and Beaches: Allowing small groups of up to 5 people or members of the same family to open beaches with a capacity of up to 30%. Individual sports such as walking, running and cycling are allowed, while continuing to close playgrounds and sports equipment in those places.

10- Continuing to oblige all citizens and residents when leaving home or moving for any reason that no more than four people are in the vehicle, including the driver of the vehicle, with the exception of family members residing in the same house.

11- Continue with reducing the number of people who are transported by buses to half the bus’s capacity, while taking precautions and precautions.

12- Allowing the operation of metro services and public transport services not exceeding 30% of the capacity throughout the week, taking into account the closure of places designated for smoking, and not allowing food and drink to be consumed.

13- Permitting the opening of driving schools and providing their services not to exceed 30% of the capacity, provided that all workers at the school are fully vaccinated.

14- Allowing theaters and cinemas to be opened and providing their services not exceed 30% of the capacity, and only those who have completed doses of the Covid-19 vaccine are allowed to enter, and children under 12 years old are not allowed.

15- Allowing private educational centers and training centers to provide their services not exceeding 30% of the capacity, provided that all the trainers who work in these centers are vaccinated.

16- Allowing nurseries to open and provide their services not exceeding 30% of the capacity, provided that all workers are fully vaccinated.

17- Allowing public museums and libraries to be open without exceeding 30% of the capacity.

18- Continue to allow educational sessions to be held in centers designated for people with special needs, not exceeding 5 persons per session, provided that all trainers who work in these centers are vaccinated.

19- Permitting professional sports training, whether in closed or open spaces, permitting preparatory training for local and international tournaments approved by the Ministry of Public Health while not allowing the public attendance and allowing amateurs to train with a maximum of 10 people in open spaces who have completed doses of the vaccine and  5 people in enclosed spaces who have completed doses of the Covid-19 vaccine, while not allowing the public to attend.

20- Allowing the organization of local and international sporting events after obtaining the approval of the Ministry of Public Health and allowing the presence of no more than 30% of the capacity of the public in open spaces, provided that they have completed vaccination.

21- All conferences, exhibitions and events continue to be postponed.

22- Shopping centers continue to work at 30% capacity. Close all food court, with the exception of pick-up and delivery services. Children under 12 years old are not allowed.

23- Allowing restaurants and cafes to serve food and drinks according to the following:
A- Capacity not exceeding 30% for all restaurants and cafes in the open areas.
B- Capacity not exceeding 30% in closed spaces for restaurants and cafes that have a "Clean Qatar" programme certificate, and only customers who have completed both doses of the vaccine allowed entry.

24- Continuing to stop the work of rental boats, tourist yachts and pleasure boats, with the exception of rental services for family members residing in the same house, provided that all workers in these boats and yachts are vaccinated. The presence of non-family members residing in the same house on board, or the presence of maximum 10 persons who are not family members, provided that they have completed doses of the / Covid-19 / vaccine, while allowing the presence of two persons among the / 10 / persons who did not complete or They have not received any COVID-19 vaccine doses.

25- Continuing the work of the traditional markets (souqs) markets throughout the week with a capacity not exceeding 30% and children under 12 years old are not allowed to enter.

26- Continuing the functioning of wholesale markets with a capacity not exceeding 30% and children under 12 years old are not allowed to enter.

27- Permitting the opening of beauty and hair salons with a capacity not exceeding 30%, provided that all workers in these facilities and clients have completed doses of the Covid-19 vaccine.

28- Allowing amusement parks and all entertainment centers to open according to the following:
A- Capacity not exceeding 30% for amusement parks and leisure centers in open spaces.
B - A capacity of not exceeding 20% for amusement parks and indoor entertainment centers, with only those customers who have completed doses of the Covid-19 vaccine allowed to enter.

29- Allowing the opening of health clubs, physical training clubs, massage services, saunas and steam services, Jacuzzi services, Moroccan and Turkish baths with capacity not exceeding 30%, provided that all workers in these facilities and clients are vaccinated.

30- Allowing swimming pools and water parks to open according to the following:
A- Capacity not exceeding 30% for all outdoor swimming pools and water parks.
B - A capacity that does not exceed 20% for all swimming pools and indoor water parks, and only allow entry for clients who have completed doses of the vaccine Covid-19.

31- Permitting the provision of medical services in private health care facilities that does not exceed 80% of the capacity of these facilities.

32- Allowing cleaning and hospitality companies to provide their services through workers who have completed doses of the Covid-19 vaccine, whether in one or more homes, and permitting the provision of cleaning and hospitality services to the establishments contracting with them during working hours with a capacity not exceeding 30%, through Its employees who have completed doses of the Covid-19 vaccine.

In this regard, adherence to health requirements, procedures, precautionary measures and controls determined by the Ministry of Public Health.

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

These decisions shall be effective from Friday, 28/5/2021, until further notice.