His Excellency Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Al Thani, Prime Minister and Minister of Interior chaired the ordinary meeting held by the Council on 29 September 2021 at its headquarters in the Amiri Diwan.

After the meeting, His Excellency Dr. Abdullah bin Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Subaie, Minister of Municipality and Environment and Acting Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs, made a statement as follows:

At the beginning of the meeting, the Council listened to the explanation given by His Excellency the 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 gradually lift the restrictions imposed as a result of the Corona pandemic, and in the interest of health and safety All members of the community, decide the following:

The decisions shall be effective from 3 October 2021 until further notice.

Business and Leisure

• Workplace: All employees are allowed to work from their office spaces.
• Workplace (meeting): Continuing to allow meetings to be held for employees and workers in the government and private sectors who are at their workplace in the presence of no more than (30) people, provided that the rest of the meetings are remotely done.
• Rapid test for non-vaccinated: Continuing to oblige all employees and workers in the public and private sectors to conduct a Rapid Antigen test on a weekly basis, for employees and workers who did not receive or complete doses of the “Covid-19” vaccine. Employees are exempted from conducting this examination if they have completed doses of the “Covid-19” vaccine, and this also applies to those who have recovered from the disease.
• Theatres and cinemas: Continuing to allow the opening of theaters and cinemas and the provision of their services not exceeding (50%) of the capacity, provided that (75%) of the customers who have completed doses of the “Covid-19” vaccine, and allowing the entry of children under 12 years of age, and counting them within the (25%) allowed for those who did not complete or did not receive doses of the (Covid-19) vaccine.
• Museums and libraries: Allowing the opening of museums and public libraries with a full capacity.
• Shopping Malls: Allowing the work of commercial complexes with a full capacity, allowing children to enter, and allowing the opening of food courts within the commercial complexes not exceeding (50%) of the capacity of the food courts, and allowing the opening of mosques and changing rooms in those complexes, with the commitment of all shops to those complexes. The maximum number of customers allowed to be there, which is determined by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
• Restaurants: Continuing to allow restaurants and cafes to serve food and beverages according to the following:
• A full capacity card for restaurants and cafes that have a “Clean Qatar” certificate, and a capacity card not exceeding (50%) for restaurants and cafes that meet the conditions determined by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, in open spaces.
• A capacity card that does not exceed (75%) for restaurants and cafes that have a “Clean Qatar” certificate, and a capacity card that does not exceed (40%) for restaurants and cafes that meet the conditions determined by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, provided that all customers have completed vaccine doses. (Covid-19), and allow entry to children under the age of 12, accompanied by their families only, in closed spaces.
• Trade-shows, Exhibitions, Conferences and Cultural Events​​​​​​​: Continuing to allow the organization of conferences, exhibitions, and events according to the following:
  • A capacity not exceeding (75%), in open spaces, provided that 90% of the participants who completed doses of the “Covid-19” vaccine, with obligating those who did not complete or did not receive doses of the “Covid” vaccine by conducting a rapid test for the Coronavirus (Rapid Antigen) approved by the Ministry of Public Health, or a (PCR) examination.
  • A capacity not exceeding (50%), in closed places, provided that (90%) of the participants who completed doses of the / Covid-19 vaccine, with obligating those who did not complete or did not receive doses of the Covid vaccine by conducting a rapid test for the Coronavirus (Rapid Antigen) approved by the Ministry of Public Health, or a (PCR) examination.
  • In all cases, the approval of the Ministry of Public Health is required if the conference, exhibition, or event has more than (1,000) people in open spaces, and (500) people in closed places.
• Souqs: Allowing souqs to operate on all days of the week with a full capacity, and allowing children to enter, with all stores in those markets complying with the maximum number of customers allowed for their presence there, which is determined by the Ministry of Trade and Industry.
• Wholesale markets: Continuing the work of wholesale markets with a capacity not exceeding (75%), and allowing the entry of children, with the commitment of all stores in those markets to the maximum number of customers allowed to be present in them, which is determined by the Ministry of Trade and Industry, and allowing auctions to be held in those markets.
• Barbershops and hairdressers: Continuing to allow the opening of beauty and barbershops with a capacity not exceeding (75%), provided that all workers in these facilities and clients have completed doses of the “Covid-19” vaccine, taking into account that there are no more than two children under 12 years old at the same time in those salons.
• Theme parks and leisure centers: 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.
  • A capacity not exceeding (50%) for amusement parks and indoor entertainment centers, provided that (75%) of customers who have completed doses of the “Covid-19” vaccine, and children under 12 years old, are allowed to enter. And counting them within the percentage of (25%) allowed for those who did not complete or did not receive doses of the "Covid-19" vaccine.
• Health clubs, gyms, and spas: Continuing to allow the opening of health clubs, physical training clubs, massage services, sauna and steam rooms, jacuzzi services, and Moroccan and Turkish baths, provided that it does not exceed (75%) of the capacity, provided that all workers in those facilities and customers have completed doses of the Covid-19 vaccine.
• Swimming pools and water parks: Continuing to allow the opening of swimming pools and water parks according to the following:
  • A capacity not exceeding (75%) for all swimming pools and water parks in open spaces.
  • A capacity not exceeding (50%) for all indoor swimming pools and water parks, and only customers who have completed doses of the “Covid-19” vaccine are allowed to enter, provided that among that percentage is (75%) of the clients who have completed doses The “Covid-19” vaccine, and allowing children under 12 years of age to enter and counting them within the (25%) allowed for those who did not complete or did not receive doses of the “Covid-19” vaccine.
• Cle​aning and Hospitality Services: Continuing to allow cleaning and hospitality companies to provide their services through their workers who have completed doses of the “Covid-19” vaccine, whether in one or more homes, and allowing cleaning and hospitality services to be provided to the facilities contracted with them during working hours with a full capacity, through their employees who have completed COVID-19 vaccine doses.

COVID-19 precautionary measures with respect to 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 except in the following cases:
  • Presence in organized public activities in markets, exhibitions, and during events.
  • Presence on the premises of mosques, schools, universities and hospitals.
  • All workers in establishments, whose nature of work requires being in open spaces and communicating with customers, must wear masks during their work period.

EHTERAZ Application

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

Gatherings

• Mosques: Continuing to open mosques to perform daily duties and Friday prayers, 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.
• Social Gatherings: Continuing to allow social gatherings in homes and majlis according to the following:
  • The presence of a maximum of (30) persons who have completed doses of the (Covid-19) vaccine, or a maximum of (5) persons if all or one of them did not complete or did not receive doses of the (Covid-19) vaccine, in closed places in homes and majlis.
  • The presence of a maximum of (50) persons who have completed doses of the (Covid-19) vaccine, or a maximum of (10) persons, if all or one of them did not complete or did not receive doses of the (Covid-19) vaccine, in the open spaces in homes and majlis.
• Weddings: Continuing to allow wedding parties to be held in wedding halls in hotels and independent wedding halls only, and to be present in them according to the following:
  • If there is no more than (30%) of the capacity of the closed wedding hall, and a maximum of (250) people, and the number of people who have not completed or received doses of the “Covid-19” vaccine shall not exceed (20) people within the percentage or maximum of the two mentioned.
  • If there is no more than (50%) of the capacity of the open wedding hall, and a maximum of (400) people, and the number of people who have not completed or received doses of the “Covid-19” vaccine should not exceed (50) people within the percentage or maximum. the two mentioned. In all cases, those who have not completed or have not received doses of the Covid-19 vaccine, including children aged six years and older, must take the Rapid Antigen test approved by the Ministry of Public Health.

Education and Health

• Education and Training Centers: Continuing to allow educational centers and private training centers to provide their services with a capacity not exceeding (75%), and a full capacity card in the event that (75%) or more of the total number of trainees who have completed doses of the “Covid-19” vaccine, provided that all The trainers who start work in these centers are those who have completed doses of the (Covid-19) vaccine, with the trainees who have not completed or did not receive doses of the (Covid-19) vaccine, obligating the trainees to undergo the rapid test for the Coronavirus (Rapid Antigen) approved by the Ministry of Public Health.
• Special Needs Centers: Continuing 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 who start work in those centers are from those who have completed doses of the “Covid-19” vaccine.
• Nurseries: Continuing to allow the opening of nurseries and the provision of their services not exceeding (75%) of the absorptive capacity, provided that all workers who start work in nurseries are from those who have completed doses of the “Covid-19” vaccine.
  
• Private healthcare facilities: Continuing to allow medical services to be provided in private health care facilities with the full capacity of these facilities, provided that all workers who start work in those facilities are those who have completed doses of the (Covid-19) vaccine.

Outdoor and Professional Sports

• Activities in parks, Corniche, and beaches: Continuing to allow gatherings or sitting in public parks, beaches and the Corniche with a maximum of (30) people or family members residing in the same house, and it is allowed to practice individual sports such as walking, running and cycling, and allowing the opening of playgrounds and sports equipment in those places, and allowing the opening of beaches. Private bathrooms have a full capacity, and allow the opening of toilets in parks specified by the Ministry of Municipality and Environment.

• Professional Sports Training​​​​​​​​​​​​: Continuing to allow professional sports training, whether indoors or outdoors, and to allow preparatory training for local and international tournaments approved by the Ministry of Public Health, and to allow amateur training according to the following:
  • Training of age groups from (18) years and under, with a maximum of (40) people in open places and (30) people in closed places, who have completed doses of the “Covid-19” vaccine, with obligating the trainees who did not complete or did not They receive doses of the “Covid-19” vaccine, by conducting a rapid test for the Coronavirus (Rapid Antigen) approved by the Ministry of Public Health, with no public attendance allowed.
  • Training children in private clubs with a maximum of (35) people in open spaces who have completed doses of the “Covid-19” vaccine, and a maximum of (25) people in closed spaces who have completed doses of the “Covid-19” vaccine, with obligating the trainees who did not complete or not received doses of the Covid-19 vaccine by taking the Rapid Antigen test approved by the Ministry of Public Health, with no public attendance allowed.
• Local and International Sporting events: Continuing 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 no more than (75%) of the capacity of the public in open spaces, provided that among that percentage (90%) of the public who have completed vaccine doses (Covid-19), and allowing no more than (50%) of the public’s capacity in closed places, provided that (90%) of the public have completed doses of the (Covid-19) vaccine, with obligating those who have not completed or they did not receive doses of the (Covid-19) vaccine by conducting the rapid test for Coronavirus (Rapid Antigen) approved by the Ministry of Public Health.

Transport

• Continuing to work to 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.
• Public transport:
  • Continuing to allow the transportation of people by bus, not exceeding (75%) of the bus capacity, with taking precautionary measures and measures.
  • Continuing the operation of metro services and public transport services, not exceeding (75%) of the capacity throughout the week, while continuing to close places designated for smoking, and not allowing food and drink in the aforementioned means of transport.
• Driving schools: Continuing to allow the opening of driving schools and the provision of their services, according to the following:
  • A full capacity if (75%) or more of the total number of trainees have completed doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.
  • A capacity not exceeding (75%) if the percentage of trainees who have completed doses of the “Covid-19” vaccine is less than (75%) of the total number of trainees.
  • In all cases, all employees who start work in the school must be from those who have completed doses of the “Covid-19” vaccine, with the obligation of all trainees who did not complete or did not receive doses of the “Covid-19” vaccine, to undergo a rapid test for the Coronavirus (Rapid Antigen) as certified by the Ministry of Public Health.
• Maritime transport:
  • Maintain rental and excursion/tourist boats with a maximum capacity of 50%, up to a maximum of 40 people (only 5 of which can be unvaccinated).
  • All staff and navy crew must be vaccinated.
  • Allow personal boats with full capacity with a maximum of 12 people.

Source: Qatar Cabinet, QNA
Cover image credit: Shutterstock

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