Learn about the Qatar Cabinet's decisions regarding the gradual lifting of restrictions plan

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The Prime Minister and Minister of Interior H.E. Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Al Thani chaired the regular Cabinet meeting today through video conferencing.

The decisions shall be effective from Friday, 28 May 2021, 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:

Business and Leisure

Workplace: No more than 50% of the total number of employees in the government sector at the 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.
Workplace: No more than 50% of the total number of workers in the private sector work at their place of work, and the 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.
Workplace: Allowing meetings in government and private sectors at the workplace with no more than 15 fully vaccinated people and the rest of meetings to be conducted remotely using modern technology.

Theatres and cinemas: Allowing theatres 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.

Museums and libraries: Allowing public museums and libraries to be open without exceeding 30% of the capacity.
Trade-shows, Exhibitions, Conferences and Cultural Events: All conferences, exhibitions and events continue to be postponed.
Shopping Malls: Shopping centers continue to work at 30% capacity. Close all food courts, with the exception of pick-up and delivery services. Children under 12 years old are not allowed. Prayer areas and changing rooms in malls must remain closed.
Restaurants: Allowing restaurants and cafes to serve food and drinks according to the following:
- Capacity not exceeding 30% for all restaurants and cafes in the open areas (outdoor dining).
- Capacity not exceeding 30% in closed spaces (indoor) for restaurants and cafes that have a "Clean Qatar" program certificate, provided that customers have completed both doses of the vaccine allowed entry.

Souqs: 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.
Wholesale markets: Continuing the functioning of wholesale markets with a capacity not exceeding 30% and children under 12 years old are not allowed to enter.
Barbershops and hairdressers: 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.
Theme parks and leisure centers: Allowing amusement parks and all entertainment centers to be opened according to the following:
- Capacity of not exceeding 30% for amusement parks and entertainment centers in open spaces.
- 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.

Health clubs, gyms, and spas: Allowing the opening of health clubs, physical training clubs, massage services, saunas and steam services, Jacuzzi services and Moroccan and Turkish baths not exceeding 30% of the capacity, provided that all workers in these facilities and clients have completed doses of the Covid-19 vaccine.
Swimming pools and water parks: Allowing swimming pools and water parks to open according to the following:
- Capacity not exceeding 30% for all outdoor swimming pools and water parks.
- A capacity that does not exceed 20% of all swimming pools and indoor water parks, and only allows entry for customers who have completed doses of the Covid-19 vaccine.

Cleaning and Hospitality Services: Allowing 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 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.

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

Gatherings

Mosques: 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.

Social gatherings: 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.

Weddings: Not allowed to hold weddings indoors and outdoors.

Outdoor and Professional Sports

Activities in parks, Corniche, and beaches: Allowing small groups of up to 5 people or members of the same family (residing in the same house). Allowing to open private 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.
Organized Sports Training: 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.
Professional Sports Events: 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.

Transport

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.
Continue with reducing the number of people who are transported by buses to half the bus’s capacity, while taking precautions and precautions.
Public transport: 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.
Driving schools: 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.
Maritime transport: Continue the ban on renting excursion boats, and tourist yachts.
- The exception is made to rental boats for family members residing in the same house, provided that all workers on these boats and yachts have completed both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.
- Owners of boats and personal yachts are obligated, in the event that they are used, that only members of their family residing in the same house are allowed on board, or a maximum of 10 non-family members, with at least eight having received the COVID-19 vaccine.

Education and Health

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.
Allowing nurseries to open and provide their services not exceeding 30% of the capacity, provided that all workers are fully vaccinated.
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.
Private healthcare facilities: Permitting the provision of medical services in private health care facilities, not exceeding 80% of the capacity of these facilities.

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 Commerce 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, 5/28/2021, until further notice.

The Council took note of the measures taken in the matter of adopting the integrated education system for all public and private universities, schools and kindergartens, and the current travel and return policy to the State of Qatar.

The Council calls on all members of society, citizens and residents, to adhere to the precautionary measures and measures in order to take the necessary decisions to activate the second phase of the plan to gradually lift the restrictions imposed by the Corona pandemic, after three weeks, based on the positive results of the epidemic indicators.

Source: Qatar News Agency

Cover image: Shutterstock

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