Phase 3 of gradual lifting of COVID-19 restrictions to start on 9 July

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

Following the meeting, H.E. Minister of Municipality and Environment and Acting Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Abdullah bin Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Subaei issued the following statement:

At the outset of the meeting, the cabinet was briefed by the H.E. Minister of Public Health on the latest developments in efforts to curb COVID-19. 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 Coronavirus pandemic, and in the interest of the health and safety of all members of society, the cabinet decided the following:

The decisions shall be effective from 9 July 2021, until further notice.

Business and Leisure

Workplace (Government): Continuing to allow, according to the need of work, a maximum of 80 percent of the total number of employees in the government sector in each business entity to work from the office, with the rest working remotely or upon request depending on the circumstances. The exception is to the military, security and health sectors.
Workplace (Private): Continuing to allow, according to the need of work, a maximum of 80 percent of the total number of employees in the private sector in each business entity to work from the office, with the rest working remotely or upon request depending on the circumstances. The Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI), in coordination with the authorities concerned, will determine the necessary activities excluded from this decision.
Meetings: Continuing to allow meetings for employees and workers in the government and private sectors present at their workplace with the attendance of no more than 15 people. Others can only attend the meeting remotely using modern technological means.
Non-vaccinated Employees: Continuing to require all employees in the public and private sector to carry out a rapid antigen test that is accredited by the Ministry of Public Health on a weekly basis. This applies to employees who did not receive or complete both doses of their COVID-19 vaccines. Those who did take both doses or recovered from the disease are exempt from taking the rapid antigen test.

Theatres and cinemas: Continuing to allow the opening of theaters and cinemas and the provision of their services not exceeding 30 percent of the capacity, provided that 75% of the customers who have completed doses of COVID-19 vaccine, allowing children to enter within this 75%. The remaining 25% allowed for those who did not complete or did not receive doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Museums and libraries: Continuing to allow the opening of museums and public libraries without exceeding (75%) of the capacity.
Trade-shows, Exhibitions, Conferences and Cultural Events: Continuing to allow the organization of conferences, exhibitions and events with a capacity not exceeding 30%, after obtaining the approval of the Ministry of Public Health.
Shopping Malls: Continuing to allow malls to operate at a maximum capacity of 50 percent, with children allowed in. Allowing the opening of food courts with a maximum capacity of 30 percent, and allowing all prayers areas to open, but keeping changing rooms closed.
Restaurants: Allowing restaurants and cafes to serve food and beverages according to the following:
- A maximum capacity of 50 percent for restaurants and cafes that have the Qatar Clean certificate, and a maximum capacity of 30 percent for restaurants and cafes that meet the conditions determined by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry in open air areas.
- A maximum capacity of 50 percent for restaurants and cafes that have the Qatar Clean certificate, and a capacity that does not exceed 15 percent for restaurants and cafes that meet the conditions determined by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry indoors, provided that all customers must have completed doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, children are allowed in only with their families.

Souqs: The traditional markets (souqs) continue to operate throughout the week, with a capacity not exceeding (50%), and children are allowed to enter.
Wholesale markets: Continuing the work of wholesale markets with a capacity not exceeding (50%), and allowing children to enter.
Barbershops and hairdressers: Continuing to allow beauty salons and barbershops to operate at a maximum capacity of 50 percent, provided that all workers in these facilities and clients have completed taking both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. Only one child at a time is allowed to be present inside these establishments.
Theme parks and leisure centers: Continuing to allow the opening of amusement parks and all entertainment centers according to the following:
- At a maximum capacity of 50 percent for open-air amusement parks and entertainment centers.
- At a maximum capacity of 30 percent for indoor amusement parks and entertainment centers, provided that 75 percent of the customers must have completed doses of the (COVID-19) vaccine. Children are allowed in and must be counted among the 25 percent 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 health clubs, gyms, massage services, sauna and steam rooms, jacuzzi services, and Moroccan and Turkish baths at a maximum capacity of 50 percent, provided that all workers in these facilities and customers have completed both 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 50% for all swimming pools and water parks in open spaces.
- At a capacity not exceeding 30 percent for indoor pools and waterparks, only customers who have completed doses of the COVID-19 vaccine are allowed to enter. From the 30 percent, 75 percent of the customers must have completed doses of the (COVID-19), with children allowed in and counted among the remaining 25 percent that do not receive the COVID-19 vaccine.

Cleaning and Hospitality Services: Continuing to allow cleaning and hospitality companies to provide their services through their employees who have completed doses of the (Covid-19) vaccine, whether in one or more homes. Allowing cleaning and hospitality services to be provided to the facilities contracting with them during working hours with a capacity not exceeding (80%), also through workers who are fully vaccinated.

COVID-19 precautionary measures

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.
Continuing to oblige all citizens and residents to activate the EHTERAZ application on smartphones when leaving the house for any reason.

Gatherings

Mosques: Mosques shall continue opening for daily and Friday prayers, but children under seven are not allowed in. Toilets and ablution facilities must remain closed. The Ministry of Public Health and the Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs will determine the other precautionary measures.

Social gatherings: Continuing to allow presence in homes and councils according to the following:
- Allowing a maximum of 15 people who have completed doses of COVID-19 vaccine or a maximum of 5 people if all or any of them did not complete or did not receive doses of COVID-19 vaccine in closed places in homes and majlis.
- Allowing a maximum of 30 people who have completed doses of COVID-19 vaccine or a maximum of 10 people who have completed doses of COVID-19 vaccine with those who have not completed or did not receive doses of COVID-19 vaccine in outdoor areas of homes or majlis.

Weddings: Continuing to allow wedding parties to be held in wedding halls in hotels and independent wedding halls only, provided that the number of attendees does not exceed 80 people while allowing the presence of 10 people in attendance who did not complete or did not receive 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 for a maximum of 15 people or family members residing in the same house. Individual sports such as walking, running and cycling are allowed. Allowing the opening of playgrounds and exercise equipment in those places, and continuing to allow the opening of private beaches at a maximum capacity of 50%.
Professional Sports Events: Continuation of professional sports training both indoors and outdoors, permitting preparatory training for local and international tournaments approved by the Ministry of Public Health and allowing the training of amateurs with a maximum of 30 people outdoors who have completed both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, and a maximum of 15 people indoors, provided they also take the two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, with no public attendance.
Sporting events: Continuing to allow the hosting of local and international sporting events after obtaining the approval of the Ministry of Public Health, with the presence of fans not surpassing the 50 percent capacity of the open-air venue, provided that among that 75 percent have completed both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine and obligating those who did not complete or did not receive doses of the COVID-19 vaccine to conduct a rapid antigen testing for COVID-19 approved by the Ministry of Public Health within 24 hours before the event, while allowing the presence of no more than 30 percent of the capacity of the public in closed places, provided that they have completed doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Transport

Continuing to work to oblige all citizens and residents 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 in vehicles.
Continuing to work on what was decided to reduce the number of people transported by buses to half the bus capacity, while taking precautionary measures and measures.
Public transport: Continuing the operation of metro services and public transport services at a maximum capacity of 50 percent throughout the week, while closing the smoking areas and banning eating and drinking inside these services.
Driving schools: Driving schools shall continue to operate at a maximum capacity of 50 percent. All workers in the schools must have completed their COVID-19 vaccination.
Maritime transport: Continuing to allow the rental of boats and tourist yachts, provided that all workers in those boats and yachts have completed doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, and that the number of passengers on those boats and yachts does not exceed 50 percent of its capacity and a maximum of 20 people who have completed doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, while allowing the presence of 3 within the mentioned number who did not complete or did not receive doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. The owners of personal boats and yachts, if used, are obligated to adhere to the percentage, number and controls mentioned.

Education and Health

Educational and training centers: Educational centers and private training centers can continue to provide their services at a maximum capacity of 50 percent, provided that 75 percent of clients have completed doses of the COVID-19 vaccine and that all the instructors working at these centers have taken both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.
Nurseries and childcare: Nurseries to remain open and providing their services at a maximum capacity of 50 percent, provided all workers take both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.
Special needs: Centers for people with special needs to continue operations provided a maximum of five people are present per session, and that all workers have taken both 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.

Compliance with ministries

Compliance with the health requirements, procedures, precautionary measures and controls determined by the Ministry of Public Health shall be taken into consideration.

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