All Covid curbs except wearing face masks in hospitals lifted

The Cabinet has lifted all Covid-19 restrictions in Qatar, with the exception of the mandatory use of face masks inside health facilities.This came at the Cabinet's regular meeting held at the Amiri Diwan on Wednesday, which was chaired by HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim al-Thani, the official Qatar News Agency (QNA) reported.Following the meeting, HE the Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs issued a statement giving the details of the proceedings.The Cabinet examined a report of the Ministry of Public Health on the latest developments related to Covid-19 and decided to amend its decision issued in its regular meeting No. 37 of 2022, held on October 26 last year, by lifting all previously imposed restrictions, with the exception of obligating all citizens, residents and visitors to wear protective face masks when inside health facilities, QNA said.Earlier, at the beginning of the meeting, the Cabinet hailed the speech of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani before the opening session of the Fifth UN Conference on the Least Developed Countries (LDC5), in which His Highness had "put the rich and developed countries before their moral responsibility to help the LDCs, and at the same time called on the least developed countries to follow rational economic development policies", the QNA report said.The Cabinet affirmed that His Highness's call, for international human solidarity for a new world that is more secure, just and free, embodied the pillars of Qatar's foreign policy that call for dialogue, understanding and co-operation, and focusing efforts on development in addition to achieving the aspirations of peoples and respecting their rights.The Cabinet expressed pride in Qatar's hosting of LDC5, the broad and high-level participation in it, and the election of His Highness the Amir as its president, which reflects the international community's confidence in Qatar and its constructive role at the regional and international levels.Further, the Cabinet welcomed the opening of the United Nations House in Doha, which comes in support of the continuous co-operation between Qatar and the United Nations, the development of the fruitful strategic partnership between them, and the promotion of joint efforts for a peaceful world.After that, the Cabinet approved the initiation of the Government Excellence Award. This award aims to enhance the quality of government performance, raise the quality of government services, and encourage government agencies to compete in pursuing quality, development and excellence in performance.It also approved the appointment of a judge at the Qatar International Court (Civil and Commercial Court) for a five-year renewable term, and determining his remuneration.The Cabinet discussed the outcomes of the 42nd meeting of the Permanent Arab Post Committee, and took the appropriate decision thereon.