H.E. Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Al-Thani chaired the cabinet's regular meeting held last night through video conference.

Following the meeting, H.E. Minister of Justice and Acting Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Dr. Issa bin Saad Al Jafali Al Nuaimi stated the following:

At the beginning of the meeting, the Cabinet heard the explanation given by HE the Minister of Public Health on the latest developments to reduce the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19), and affirmed the continuation of the precautionary measures to combat this epidemic, including the decision issued by the Ministry of Public Health on March 28, 2020, requiring all private health facilities in the country to suspend non-emergency services.

The Cabinet then decided to extend the suspension of non-emergency medical services in private health facilities, including dental clinics, dermatology and laser clinics, plastic surgery clinics, and surgeries, with the exception of emergency cases.

It also decided to extend the suspension of services of diet and nutrition centers, physiotherapy clinics, complementary (alternative) medicine, home healthcare services, except for long-term nursing contracts, and health centers for people with special needs.

The cabinet decided that the Minister of Public Health may permit any of these private health facilities to provide some of their medical services if possible through modern means of communication.

The cabinet then extended work with some of the decisions it issued regarding the reduction in the number of employees present at the workplace in the public and in the private sectors. It also extended the implementation of the decision determining working hours for employees and workers at their workplace in the public and private sectors, while taking into consideration what has been decided regarding work hours during the holy month of Ramadan for the year 1441 AH. They also extended the implementation of the cabinet decision on (remote) meetings held by employees and workers in the public and private sectors who are at their workplace using modern technological means. The cabinet also extended its decision suspending temporary home services provided by cleaning and hospitality companies, reducing the number of workers transported by buses to half the capacity of the vehicle while taking into account precautionary measures, and the Ministry of Commerce and Industry's continued intensifying of inspection procedures for food and food outlets to ensure their compliance with health requirements and preventive and precautionary measures, including the practice of safe distancing between shoppers.

The cabinet also approved the continuation of the previous exceptions they decided earlier, and that these decisions are effective April 30, 2020 until further notice.

After that, the cabinet considered the topics on the agenda that saw it approve a draft air services agreement between the government of the State of Qatar and the Macao Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China.

The cabinet then reviewed the annual report of the Permanent Population Committee for the year 2019, and took the appropriate decision regarding it. Among the committee's tasks is, in coordination with the competent authorities, examining the population structure, its characteristics and trends, proposing the population policy of the state and following up on its implementation after approval, in addition to preparing studies and research related to the population aimed at understanding the social reality in the country and at developing population policies and programs, among a number of other tasks.

Source: QNA

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Leena Chung

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