*20% of employees in the public and private sectors to work from home
*Attendance at meetings and gatherings shall not exceed 15 persons
*Mosques will continue to remain open for daily and Friday prayers
*Visitors at commercial complexes limited to 50% of capacity
* All food courts to stay closed but takeaways allowed
*Restaurants can serve food indoors at a maximum 30% of their capacity
*Capacity of barbershops and beauty salons limited to 30%
*Private healthcare facilities will continue to provide all services
*Only home or majlis wedding parties will be allowed (from Feb.7)
*Number of passengers in buses reduced to half of the vehicle's capacity
*Metro and transport services will operate at maximum 30% of capacity
*Capacity of nurseries and childcare facilities reduced to 30%
*Approval of the MoPH necessary to hold exhibitions, conferences, events

 

The Cabinet has decided to reimpose some restrictions to curb the spread of Covid-19 in the country, Qatar News Agency (QNA) reports.

These include fresh restrictions on cafes and restaurants, closure of playgrounds in public parks, closure of food courts in shopping centres and malls, reducing the capacity of markets and regulating weddings, among several others.

With the exception of marriages, all these decisions will come into force from Thursday (February 4) and remain in effect until further notice. The wedding restrictions will apply from February 7.

After HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz al-Thani chaired the Cabinet's regular meeting at the Amiri Diwan on Wednesday, HE the Minister of Justice and Acting Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Dr Issa bin Saad al-Jafali al-Nuaimi issued a statement giving the details of the proceedings.

At the beginning of the meeting, the Cabinet listened to the explanation provided by HE the Minister of Public Health on the latest developments with regard to limiting the spread of Covid-19. After reviewing the report of the crisis management committee on the plan to reimpose restrictions due to the Covid-19 pandemic, and in the interest of the health and safety of all members of the society, the Cabinet decided the following:

* Continuing with the Cabinet decision, which requires that depending on the need for work, no more than 80% of the total number of employees in the government sector will be present at their workplace. The remaining employees will work remotely from their homes or upon request, depending on the circumstances.

* Continuing with the Cabinet decision, which requires that depending on the need for work, no more than 80% of the total number of employees in the private sector will be present at their workplace. The remaining employees will work remotely from their homes.

* Continuing with the Cabinet decree with regard to employees and workers in both the government and private sectors, meetings can be held with the attendance of no more than 15 persons, while adhering to the set procedures and precautionary measures.

* Continuing to oblige all citizens and residents to wear masks when leaving the house for any reason, unless the person is alone while driving a vehicle.

* Continuing to oblige all citizens and residents to activate the Ehteraz application on smartphones when leaving the house for any reason.

* Continuing with the opening of mosques for daily and Friday prayers, while toilets and ablution facilities remain closed.

* No more than five people are allowed in closed places and 15 in open places during visits, condolence meetings and gatherings.

* No more than 15 people are allowed in winter camps.

* Wedding parties cannot be held in closed or open spaces until further notice, with the exception of home or majlis weddings. In such cases, no more than 10 people are allowed in closed places and 20 in open spaces, and who are relatives of the bride and groom. The Ministry of Interior has to be notified of the date and place of the wedding ceremony along with a pledge to abide by the set procedures and precautionary measures according to the mechanism determined by the ministry.

* Closure of playgrounds and exercise equipment in public parks, on beaches and at the Corniche, with gatherings being limited to 15 people.

* Continuing with the decision that obliges all citizens and residents to restrict the number of people in a vehicle to a maximum of four, including the driver, while moving around for any reason. This rule excludes families.

* Continuing with the decision to reduce the number of people transported by bus to half of the vehicle's capacity, while taking precautionary and preventive measures.

* Continuing to operate Metro services and public transport at a maximum 30% of their capacity.

* Reducing the capacity of driving schools to 25%.

* Continuing to operate cinemas and theatres at a maximum 30% of their capacity, while not allowing entry to those under 18 years of age.

* Reducing the capacity of educational centres and private training centres to 30%.

* Reducing the capacity of nurseries and childcare facilities to 30%.

* Reducing the capacity of public museums and libraries to 50%.

* Allowing individual educational sessions to be held in centres designated for persons with special needs.

* Training for professional sports 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 organise local and international sport events, while prohibiting public attendance indoors and allowing their presence outdoors with a capacity not exceeding 20%.

* Obtaining prior approval from the MoPH to hold exhibitions, conferences and various events.

* Continuing with the operation of commercial complexes with a capacity that does not exceed 50%, with the closure of all food courts and allowing takeaway orders only.

* Allowing restaurants and cafes to serve food and beverages indoors at a maximum 15% of their capacity, and restaurants with a Qatar Clean certificate at a maximum 30% of their capacity. Also, it is decided to allow all restaurants and cafes to serve food and drinks outdoors at a maximum 50% of their capacity.

* Suspending the services of rental boats and tourist yachts. Owners of boats and personal yachts are obligated to ensure that no more than 15 people are on board if such vessels are used.

* Reducing the capacity of traditional markets to 50%.

* Reducing the capacity of wholesale markets to 30%.

* Reducing the capacity of barbershops and beauty salons to 30%.

* Closing indoor amusement parks and all entertainment centres in commercial complexes, and allowing such facilities to operate outdoors only at a maximum 30% of their capacity.

* Continuing the work of health clubs and physical training clubs at a maximum 30% of their capacity, as well as the continued provision of massage services in five-star hotels only at a maximum 30% of their capacity. Also, it is decided to close 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 at a maximum 30% of their capacity.

* Private healthcare facilities will continue to provide all services.

* The conditions and precautionary measures laid down by the Ministry of Public Health must be taken into consideration.

All governmental bodies must ensure adherence to the health and precautionary measures by employees and visitors, while taking the appropriate measures against violators, the QNA report states.

If any employee in a governmental body makes a complaint regarding a failure to comply with the precautionary measures at their place of work, the complaint will be referred to HE the Minister concerned or the head of the governmental body to take appropriate measures.

The Ministry of Interior, MoPH, 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.

The decisions will come into effect today. The only exception is for the decision on banning indoor and outdoor weddings, which will come into effect on Sunday, February 7, until further notice.

The Cabinet has 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.

It has 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 is absolutely necessary.

 

Blended learning system to continue in schools at current levels

 

The Cabinet yesterday 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 system, QNA reported.

The Cabinet also decided to reduce the capacity of nurseries and childcare facilities to 30%.

The blended learning system is currently being followed in schools across Qatar, with the Ministry of Education and Higher Education deciding in December 2020 to fix the attendance rate at 50% of the capacity.

 

No change in travel, quarantine policies

 

The Cabinet yesterday said the current travel, return and quarantine policies will continue to apply, with the Ministry of Public Health periodically updating the Covid-19 'Green List' countries, QNA reported.