H.E. Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Al Thani, Prime Minister and Minister of Interior chaired the regular meeting held by the Council this afternoon at its headquarters in the Amiri Diwan.

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

At the beginning of the meeting, the Cabinet listened to the explanation provided by H.E. the Minister of Public Health on the latest developments and developments to limit the spread of the Coronavirus (Covid- 19).

After reviewing the report of the Crisis Management Committee regarding the plan to re-impose restrictions due to the Corona pandemic (Covid-19), and in the interest of the health and safety of all members of society, he decided the following:

READ MORE: Qatar to reimpose COVID-19 restrictions in 4 levels to curb possible second wave and new strain

First: Reimposing COVID-19 restrictions

WORK

• Continuing the work of the Cabinet decision, which requires that, depending on the need for work, no more than (80 percent) of the total number of employees in the government sector working at their workplace, while the remaining number of employees work remotely from their homes or upon request, depending on the circumstances.
• Continuing the work of the Cabinet decision, which requires that, depending on the need for work, no more than (80 percent) of the total number of employees in the private sector working at their workplace, while the remaining number of them work remotely from their homes.
• Continuing the work of the Cabinet decree, as for employees and workers in the government and private sectors to allow meetings to be held with the attendance of no more than (15) persons, and to adhere to procedures and precautionary measures.

MOSQUES, FUNERALS, & WEDDINGS

• Continuing the opening of Mosques for daily prayers and Friday prayers, while toilets and ablution facilities remain closed.
• No more than (5) people are in closed places, and (15) people in open places, a maximum, during visits, in condolences, and in gatherings
  
• Not to hold wedding parties in closed and open spaces until further notice, this excludes home or majlis weddings, in the presence of no more than (10) people in closed places and (20) people in open spaces who are relatives of the spouses, notifying the Ministry of Interior of the date and place of the wedding ceremony and pledging to abide by the procedures and precautionary measures according to the mechanism determined by the ministry.

PLAYGROUNDS, EXERCISE EQUIPMENT, AMUSEMENT PARKS & ENTERTAINMENT CENTERS

• Closing the playgrounds and exercise equipment in public parks, beaches and the corniche, with gatherings being limited to (15) people.
• Closing of indoor amusement parks and all entertainment centers in commercial complexes, and allowing them to work outdoors only, with a capacity that does not exceed (30 percent).

TRANSPORTATION

• Continuing the work with the decision obliging all citizens and residents, when leaving and moving for any reason, that no more than four people are allowed in the vehicle, including the vehicle's driver, this excludes families when leaving and moving in vehicles.
• Continuing work with the decision of reducing the number of people transported by buses to half of the bus capacity, while taking precautionary measures and measures.
• Continuing to operate metro services and public transport, with a capacity not exceeding (30 percent).

BUSINESSES

• Reducing the capacity of driving schools to a percentage not exceeding (25 percent).
• Continuing to operate cinemas and theaters with a capacity not exceeding (30 percent), and not to allow entry to persons under (18) years old.
• Obtaining prior approval from the Ministry of Public Health to hold exhibitions, conferences and various events.
• Reducing the capacity of traditional markets to (50 percent).
• Reducing the capacity of wholesale markets to (30 percent).
• Continuing the work of commercial complexes with a capacity that does not exceed (50 percent), and closure of all food courts, allowing takeaway orders only.
• Allowing restaurants and cafes to serve food and beverages indoors with a capacity that does not exceed (15 percent), and restaurants with a "Qatar Clean" program with a capacity not exceeding (30 percent), and allowing all restaurants and cafes to serve food and drinks in their outdoors, with a capacity not exceeding (50) percent. READ MORE: Restaurant and cafes' seating capacity to be reduced; Food courts to be closed

EDUCATION & TRAINING

• Reducing the capacity of educational centers and private training centers to (30 percent).
• Reducing the capacity of nurseries and childcare to (30 percent).
• Allowing individual educational sessions to be held in centers designated for people with special needs.
• The cabinet noted the continuation of the current education plan in all public and private schools and kindergartens at the current levels with the implementation of the weekly rotating attendance schedules.

SALON, SPA, FITNESS CENTERS, POOLS & WATER PARKS

• Reducing the capacity of barbershops and beauty salons to (30 percent).
• Continuing the work of health clubs and physical training clubs with a capacity not exceeding (30 percent), and the continued provision of massage services in five-star hotels only with a capacity not exceeding (30 percent), and the closure of saunas and steam rooms, Jacuzzi services, and Moroccan and Turkish baths.
• Closing all indoor swimming pools and water parks, and continuing to operate outdoor swimming pools and water parks with a capacity not exceeding 30 percent.

LEISURE ACTIVITIES

• No more than (15) people are in the winter camps.
• Reducing the capacity of public museums and libraries to (50 percent).
• Suspending the services of renting boats and tourist yachts. Owners of boats and personal yachts are obligated if they are used, that no more than (15) people are on board.

SPORTS

• Training for professional sports teams is limited to no more than (40) people outdoors and (20) people indoors, with no audience.
• Obtaining prior approval from the Ministry of Public Health to organize local and international sports events, while prohibiting public attendance indoors and allowing their presence outdoors with a capacity not exceeding (20 percent).

GENERAL

• Continuing the work of obliging all citizens and residents to wear masks when leaving the house for any reason, unless the person is present by himself while driving the vehicle.
  
• Continuing the work of obliging all citizens and residents to activate EHTERAZ application on smartphones when leaving the house for any reason.
• The work of private health care facilities continues to provide all their services.
• The cabinet also said that the current travel, return, and quarantine policies will continue as is, with the Ministry of Public Health updating the COVID-19 green list countries.
  

Second:

In this regard, the conditions and precautionary measures set by the Ministry of Public Health must be taken into consideration.

Third:

All governmental bodies must ensure the adherence to the health and precautionary measures by employees and visitors while taking the appropriate measures with violators.

Fourth:

If any employee in a governmental body makes a complaint regarding the failure to comply with the precautionary measures at their place of work, the complaint is raised to the minister or the head of the governmental body to take the appropriate measures.

Fifth:

The Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Public Health, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, and other governmental bodies are in charge of taking the necessary measures to ensure adherence to the precautionary measures, all within their powers and jurisdiction.

Sixth:

The decisions will go into effect starting Thursday, Feb. 4, 2021. The only exception is made to the decision on banning indoor and outdoor weddings, which goes into effect starting Sunday, Feb. 7 until further notice.

The cabinet called on citizens and residents to adhere to the precautionary measures to contain the virus and avoid the penalties stipulated in decree-law no. 17 of 1990 on communicable diseases, amended in law no. 9 of 2020. The cabinet also called on citizens and residents to complete their transactions with governmental and private entities using electronic systems and applications, and avoid visiting them unless it was absolutely necessary.

Source: Qatar News Agency

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