* Cabinet announces host of decisions
* New travel and return policy to be announced
* Capacity increased for Metro, public transport, driving schools, barbershops, amusement parks, libraries etc
* Private health facilities can operate at full capacity
 
 
The Cabinet has announced the next phase of the easing of Covid-19 restrictions in the country from tomorrow, Qatar News Agency reports.
The highlights of this phase include allowing private healthcare facilities to operate at full capacity, allowing children in cinemas subject to conditions, increasing the capacity of Doha Metro and public transport, driving schools, wedding halls, barbershops, amusement parks and entertainment centres, museums, libraries, nurseries, educational centres and private training centres, as well as allowing more people in a group to gather in parks and on beaches and opening playground and exercising equipment there.
Also, the Cabinet was briefed on the new travel and return policy of Qatar, which will be announced by the competent authorities.
The decisions were taken at the Cabinet's regular meeting chaired by HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz al-Thani, held at the Amiri Diwan yesterday.
Following the meeting, HE the Minister of Municipality and Environment and Acting Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Abdullah bin Abdulaziz bin Turki al-Subaei issued a statement giving the details of the proceedings.
At the outset of the meeting, the Cabinet was briefed by HE the Minister of Public Health on the latest developments pertaining to the efforts made to curb the spread of 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 Covid-19 pandemic, and in the interest of the health and safety of all members of society, the Cabinet decided the following:

1. Continuing to allow, according to the need of work, a maximum of 80% 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. Exceptions are the military, security and health sectors.
2. Continuing to allow, according to the need of work, a maximum of 80% 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 co-ordination with the authorities concerned, will determine the necessary activities excluded from this decision.
3. 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 meetings remotely using modern technological means.
4. Continuing to require all employees in the public and private sectors to undergo a rapid antigen test accredited by the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) on a weekly basis. This applies to employees who have not received any dose or completed both doses of the Covid-19 vaccine. Those who have taken both doses or recovered are exempted from taking the rapid antigen test.
5. All citizens and residents must continue to wear masks when leaving the house for any reason, unless the person is alone while driving a vehicle or with his/her family.
6. All citizens and residents must continue to activate the Ehteraz app on their smartphones when leaving the house for any reason.
7. 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 MoPH and Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs will determine the other precautionary measures.
8. Continuing to allow gatherings in homes and majlises according to the following:
* Allowing a maximum of 15 people who have taken both doses of the Covid-19 vaccine, or a maximum of five people if all or any of them have not taken both doses, or not received any dose, of the vaccine, in closed places in homes and majlises.
* Allowing a maximum of 30 people who have taken both doses of the Covid-19 vaccine, or a maximum of 10 people who have taken both doses of the vaccine along with those who have not completed the two doses or not received any dose, in the outdoor areas of homes or majlises.
9. 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 who have not taken both doses or any dose of the Covid-19 vaccine.
10. Continuing to allow gatherings or sitting in public parks, on beaches and at the Corniche for a maximum of 15 people or family members residing in the same house. Individual sports such as walking, running and cycling in such places are allowed, while also permitting the opening of playgrounds and exercising equipment there. The opening of private beaches continues, now at a maximum 50% of the capacity.
11. No car is allowed to have more than four passengers, including the driver, with the exception of family members residing in the same house.
12. Buses must continue to operate at half their capacity, while taking the precautionary measures.
13. Continuing the operation of Doha Metro and public transport services, now at a maximum 50% of their capacity, throughout the week, while closing smoking areas and banning eating and drinking inside these facilities.
14. Driving schools shall continue to operate, now at a maximum 50% of their capacity. All workers in such schools must have completed their Covid-19 vaccination.
15. Continuing to allow the opening of theatres and cinemas at a maximum 30% of their capacity, provided 75% of the customers have completed their Covid-19 vaccination. Also, children are allowed to enter and should be counted among the remaining 25% of patrons who have not completed their Covid-19 vaccination or not received any dose of the vaccine.
16. Educational centres and private training centres can continue to provide their services, now at a maximum 50% of their capacity, provided 75% of clients have completed their Covid-19 vaccination. All instructors working at these centres must be fully vaccinated.
17. Nurseries to remain open and provide their services, now at a maximum 50% of their capacity, provided all workers have taken both doses of the Covid-19 vaccine.
18. Museums and public libraries to continue operating, now at a maximum 75% of their capacity.
19. Centres for persons 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.
20. Continuation of professional sports training both indoors and outdoors, permitting preparatory training for local and international tournaments approved by the MoPH, and allowing the training of amateurs with a maximum of 30 people outdoors who have completed their Covid-19 vaccination, and a maximum of 15 people indoors, provided they have also taken the two doses of the vaccine. There will be no public attendance.
21. Continuing to allow the hosting of local and international sporting events after obtaining the approval of the MoPH, with the presence of fans not surpassing 50% of the capacity of the open-air venue. This is provided 75% of them have completed their Covid-19 vaccination, while obligating those who have not taken both doses or any dose to undergo a rapid antigen test approved by the Ministry of Public Health within 24 hours before the event. Also allowed is the presence of the public at no more than 30% of the capacity in closed places, provided they have taken both doses of the vaccine.
22. Continuing to allow the organisation of conferences, exhibitions and events at a maximum 30% of the capacity after obtaining the approval of the MoPH.
23. Continuing to allow malls to operate at a maximum 50% of their capacity, with children allowed in. Also allowed is the opening of food courts at a maximum 30% of their capacity as well as all prayers areas to open, while changing rooms remain closed.
24. Continuing to allow restaurants and cafes to provide food and beverages on the following conditions:
* Open areas - a maximum 50% of the capacity for restaurants and cafes that have the Qatar Clean certificate, and a maximum 30% of the capacity for restaurants and cafes that meet the conditions determined by the MoCI.
* Indoors - a maximum 50% of the capacity for restaurants and cafes that have the Qatar Clean certificate, and not exceeding 15% of the capacity for restaurants and cafes that meet the conditions determined by the MoCI, provided that all customers must have completed their Covid-19 vaccination. Children are allowed in only with their families.
25. Continuing to allow the rental of boats and tourist yachts, provided that all workers have completed their Covid-19 vaccination and that the number of passengers does not exceed 50% of the capacity with a maximum of 20 people who have taken both doses of the 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.

26- The continuation of the operation of Souks throughout the week, with a maximum capacity of 50 percent. Children are allowed in.

27- Continuing the operation of wholesale markets with a maximum capacity of 50 percent. Children are allowed in.

28- 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.

29- Continuing to allow amusement parks and all entertainment centers to be opened according to the following conditions:

A- At a maximum capacity of 50 percent for open air amusement parks and entertainment centers.

B- 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.

30- 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.

31- Continuing to allow the opening of swimming pools and water parks according to the following:

A- At a maximum capacity of 50 percent for outdoor pools and waterparks.

B- 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. (MORE)

32- Continuing to allow medical services to be provided in private health care facilities with the full capacity of these facilities, provided that all workers in those facilities have completed both doses of the (COVID-19) vaccine.

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 houses, and allowing cleaning and hospitality services to be provided to the facilities contracting with it during working hours, with a capacity not exceeding (80%), through its employees who have completed doses of the (COVID-19) vaccine.

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

Third: 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 prescribed precautionary measures.

Fourth: These decisions shall be effective as of Friday, July 9 of 2021 until further notice.
 
 
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