Prime Minister and Minister of Interior H E Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Al Thani presided over the Cabinet’s regular meeting held at its seat at the Amiri Diwan today.
Following its meeting, the cabinet announced its decision to go ahead with the second phase of the lifting of Covid-19 restrictions, effective Friday, June 18, 2021. The cabinet decided to permit entry for kids into malls and traditional markets, increase the number of people allowed in weddings, and also conduct weekly rapid antigen tests for non-vaccinated employees and workers, except for those vaccinated or Covid-19 recovered patients or those permitted by the Health Ministry.
Following the meeting, Minister of Justice and Acting Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs H E Dr. Issa bin Saad Al Jafali Al Nuaimi issued the following statement.
At the beginning of the meeting, the Cabinet listened to the explanation given by the Minister of Public Health on the latest developments and 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 the health and safety of all members of society.
The cabinet decided the following:
1- No more than 80% of the total number of employees work from office in the government sector, while the remaining employees work remotely from their homes, with the exception of military, security, and health sectors.
2- No more than 80% of the total number of employees work from offices in the private sector and the remaining employees work remotely from their homes. Ministry of Commerce and Industry, in coordination with the concerned authorities, will determine the necessary activities excluded from this decision.
3- Continuing to allow meetings for employees and workers in government and private sectors present at their workplace in the presence of no more than 15 people, with 5 among the 15 people who have not completed or not received doses of the Covid-19 vaccine and the rest fully vaccinated. The rest of the meetings should be done remotely using modern technical means.
4- Obligating all employees and workers in the public and private sectors to conduct a rapid test for the Coronavirus (Rapid Antigen) approved by the Ministry of Public Health, on a weekly basis, for employees and workers who have not received or completed doses of the Covid-19 vaccine. Employees and workers are exempted from conducting this examination if they have completed doses of the Covid-19 vaccine, recovered from the disease or whose health status, according to a medical report approved by the Ministry, doesn’t allow taking the anti-coronavirus vaccine.
5- Continuing mask-wearing requirement when leaving home, unless alone in a vehicle or with family.
6- Continuing requirement to activate the EHTERAZ app when leaving home.
7 – Mosques continue to open for daily and Friday prayers for those over 7, while toilets and ablution facilities will remain closed.
8- No more than 10 vaccinated people, or 5 unvaccinated people or mixed groups, to gather indoors or majlis. No more than 20 vaccinated people, or 10 unvaccinated or mixed groups, to gather outdoors in homes and majlis.
9- Weddings will be permitted at hotels and wedding venues for up to 40 people, of which at least 75% must be vaccinated.
10- Up to 10 people or family members residing same house are allowed to gather at parks, beaches, and the corniche while continuing to close playgrounds and exercise equipment in those places. Private beaches to operate at 40% capacity.
11- Not to have more than four people in a vehicle, including the driver of the vehicle, with the exception of family members residing in the same house.
12- Continuing with the reduction in the number of people transported by buses to half of the bus capacity, while taking precautionary measures and measures.
13- Metro and public transport to continue operating at 30% capacity. Smoking areas will remain closed and not allowing food and drink in the mentioned means of transport.
14- Driving schools will continue operating at 30% capacity. Employees must be vaccinated.
15- Cinemas and theatres to continue at 30% capacity, for those over 12. At least 75% of customers must be vaccinated.
16- Private educational and training centres to operating at 30% capacity. Trainers must be vaccinated.
17- Nurseries and childcare facilities to continue operating at 30% capacity. Employees must be vaccinated.
18- Museums and libraries to increase to 50% capacity.
19- Special needs centres to continue operating with one teacher per up to five students. Teachers must be vaccinated.
20- Professional training allowed indoors and outdoors. Amateur training to allow 20 vaccinated people outdoors and 10 vaccinated people indoors.
21- Continuing to allow local and international sporting events after obtaining the approval of the Ministry of Public Health, and to allow the presence of no more than 30% of the capacity in open spaces, provided that 75% of the public have completed vaccine doses Covid-19, and allowing the presence of no more than 20% of the capacity of the public in closed places, provided that they have fully vaccinated.
22- Select exhibitions, conferences and fairs will be allowed at 30% capacity, following a risk assessment and approval from MOPH.
23- Allowing the work of Shopping centres with a capacity not exceeding 50%, allowing children under 12 years of age to enter, and allowing the opening of food courts at 30% capacity, mosques, and toilets.
24 – Continuing to allow restaurants and cafes to serve food and beverages in accordance with the following:
A- For open spaces, capacity should not exceed 50% for restaurants and cafes that have the “Clean Qatar” certificate, and capacity should not exceed 30% for restaurants and cafes that meet the conditions determined by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
B – For restaurants and cafes that have a “Clean Qatar” certificate indoor capacity should not exceed 30% and capacity should not exceed 15% for restaurants and cafes that meet the conditions determined by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, provided that all customers are fully vaccinated.
25- Private boats, boat rentals, and tourist boats will be allowed to open at 50 percent capacity, for up to 15 vaccinated, while allowing the presence of 3, within the mentioned percentage, who did not complete or did not receive vaccine doses. Employees must be vaccinated.
26- Souqs to open throughout the week, with capacity not exceeding 50% and children under 12 years of age are allowed.
27- Continuing the work of wholesale markets with a capacity not exceeding 50% and children under 12 years of age are allowed.
28- Continuing to allow opening of beauty and hairdressing salons with a capacity not exceeding 30%, provided that all workers in those facilities and clients are fully vaccinated.
29- To allow opening of amusement parks and all entertainment centers according to the following conditions:
A- Capacity not exceeding 30% for amusement parks and recreational centers in open spaces.
B – Capacity not exceeding 20% for amusement parks and indoor entertainment centers, provided that 75% of the customers who are fully vaccinated are among that percentage.
30- 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 (40%) of the capacity, provided that all workers in those facilities and customers have completed doses of the (Covid-19) vaccine.
31- Continuing to allow the opening of swimming pools and water parks according to the following:
A- Capacity not exceeding (40%) for all swimming pools and water parks in open spaces.
B- Capacity not exceeding (20%) for all indoor swimming pools and water parks, and only customers who have completed doses of the (Covid-19) vaccine are allowed to enter.
32- Continuing to allow medical services to be provided in private health care facilities, not exceeding (80%) of the capacity of these facilities.
33- 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; and allowing cleaning and hospitality services to be provided to the companies during working hours with a capacity not exceeding (50%), from its employees who have completed doses of the (Covid-19) vaccine.
The cabinet took note that blended education system for all public and private universities, schools and kindergartens and current travel and return policy to the State of Qatar will continue.
