CABINET RELAXES COVID-19 CURBS

Phase III of lifting restrictions to begin tomorrow

THE Cabinet has further eased the restrictions as part of a gradual plan to lift the curbs imposed due to the COVID-19 outbreak. The third phase of lifting COVID-19 restrictions will come into force from Friday (July 9) as planned.

The Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister and Minister of Interior HE Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Al Thani, took the decision after reviewing the latest developments in efforts to curb the COVID-19, and the report of the Supreme Committee for Crisis Management.

As per the Cabinet decision, a maximum of 80 percent of employees in both the government and the private sector will be allowed to work from the office, with the rest working remotely or upon request depending on the circumstances. The exceptions are the military, security and health sectors.

Employees, who have not received all the doses of COVID-19 vaccines, must undergo a rapid antigen test that is accredited by the Ministry of Public Health on a weekly basis. Those who did take both doses, or, recovered from the disease, are exempt from taking the rapid antigen test.

Meetings for employees and workers will be held with the attendance of no more than 15 people. Others can only attend the meeting remotely using modern technological means.

All citizens and residents must continue to wear masks when leaving the house for any reason, unless the person is present by himself while driving the vehicle or with his family.

All citizens and residents must continue to activate their Ehteraz app on their smartphones when leaving the house for any reason.

Mosques will remain open for daily and Friday prayers, but children under seven are not allowed in. Toilets and ablution facilities must remain closed. The Ministry of Public Health and the Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs will determine the other precautionary measures.

A maximum of 15 people who have completed doses of COVID-19 vaccine or a maximum of 5 people if all or any of them did not complete or did not receive doses of COVID-19 vaccine are allowed in closed places in homes and majlis.

A maximum of 30 people who have completed doses of COVID-19 vaccine or a maximum of 10 people who have completed doses of COVID-19 vaccine with those who have not completed or did not receive doses of COVID-19 vaccine are allowed in outdoor areas of homes or majlis.

Wedding parties will be allowed 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 in attendance who did not complete or did not receive doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Gatherings or sitting in public parks, beaches and the Corniche are allowed for a maximum of 15 people or family members residing in the same house. Individual sports such as walking, running and cycling are allowed. Opening of playgrounds and exercise equipment in those places will be allowed. Private beaches will be allowed to open at a maximum capacity of 50 percent.

No car is allowed to have more than four passengers, including the driver, with the exception of family members residing in the same house when leaving and moving in vehicles.

Buses must continue to operate at half their capacity, while taking the precautionary measures.

Metro and public transport services will operate at a maximum capacity of 50 percent throughout the week. Smoking areas will remain closed, while eating and drinking inside these services will be prohibited.

Driving schools will continue to operate at a maximum capacity of 50 percent. All workers in the schools must have completed their COVID-19 vaccination.

Theatres and cinemas will continue to operate at a maximum capacity 30 percent, provided 75 percent of the customers are vaccinated. Children will be allowed to enter and they will be counted among the 25 percent allowed for those who did not complete or did not receive doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.

EDUCATIONAL centres and private training centres can continue to provide their services at a maximum capacity of 50 percent, provided 75 percent of the clients have completed receiving doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. All the instructors working at these centres must be fully vaccinated.

Nurseries are allowed to operate at a maximum capacity of 50 percent. All workers must have taken both the doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Museums and public libraries are allowed to operate at a maximum capacity of 75 percent

Centres for people 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.

Professional sports training will be allowed both indoors and outdoors. Preparatory training for local and international tournaments approved by the Ministry of Public Health will be permitted.

The training of amateurs will be allowed with a maximum of 30 people outdoors who have completed both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, and a maximum of 15 people indoors, provided they also take the two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, with no public attendance.

Hosting of local and international sporting events will be allowed after obtaining the approval of the Ministry of Public Health with the presence of fans not surpassing the 50 percent capacity of the open-air venue. At least 75 percent of the fans must have completed both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine and those who did not complete or did not receive doses of the COVID-19 vaccine must undergo a rapid antigen testing for COVID-19 approved by the Ministry of Public Health within 24 hours before the event. For closed places, the presence of fans should not exceed 30 percent of the capacity in closed places, provided they have completed both the doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Organisation of conferences, exhibitions and events with a capacity not exceeding 30 percent will be allowed after obtaining the approval of the Ministry of Public Health.

Malls can operate at a maximum capacity of 50 percent, with children allowed in. Food courts will be allowed to operate at a maximum capacity of 30 percent. All prayers areas will be allowed to open, however, changing rooms will remain closed.

Restaurants and cafes will be allowed to provide food and beverage on the following conditions:

A: A maximum capacity of 50 percent for restaurants and cafes that have the Clean Qatar certificate, and a maximum capacity of 30 percent for restaurants and cafes that meet the conditions determined by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry in open air areas.

B- A maximum capacity of 50 percent for restaurants and cafes that have the Clean Qatar certificate, and a capacity that does not exceed 15 percent for restaurants and cafes that meet the conditions determined by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry indoors, provided that all customers must have completed doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, children are allowed in only with their families.

Rental of boats and tourist yachts will be allowed to operate at a maximum capacity of 50 percent. A maximum of 20 people who have completed doses of the COVID-19 vaccine will be allowed. A maximum of three people who did not complete or did not receive doses of the COVID-19 vaccine can be allowed among the 20. All workers in those boats and yachts must have completed 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.

Souqs will continue to operate at a maximum capacity of 50 percent throughout the week. Children are allowed in.

Wholesale markets will continue to operate at a maximum capacity of 50 percent. Children are allowed in.

Beauty salons and barbershops will operate at a maximum capacity of 50 percent, provided that all workers in these facilities and clients are fully vaccinated. Only one child at a time is allowed to be present inside these establishments.

Amusement parks and entertainment centres will be allowed to open according to the following conditions:

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

B: At a maximum capacity of 30 percent for indoor amusement parks and entertainment centres, provided that 75 percent of the customers must have completed both 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.

Health clubs, gyms, massage services, sauna and steam rooms, jacuzzi services, and Moroccan and Turkish baths will be allowed at a maximum capacity of 50 percent. All workers in these facilities and customers must be fully vaccinated.

Swimming pools and water parks will remain open 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.

Private healthcare facilities are allowed to operate at full capacity, provided that all workers in those facilities have completed both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Cleaning and hospitality companies are allowed to provide their services through their employees who have completed doses of the Covid-19 vaccine, whether in one or more houses.

Cleaning and hospitality companies can provide services to the facilities contracting with them during working hours, with a capacity not exceeding 80 percent through its employees who have completed doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.

The Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Public Health, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, and other government agencies -- each within its jurisdiction -- will take the necessary measures to ensure compliance with the health requirements and prescribed precautionary measures.

The Cabinet was briefed on the new travel and return policies to Qatar, which will be announced by the competent authorities.

The Cabinet then took necessary measures to issue a draft law on the organization of parking lots. The Cabinet then took necessary measures to issue a draft law amending some provisions of Qatar Financial Center Law issues by Law No.7 of 2005.

It also took measures to issue a draft law amending some provisions of Law No 34 of 2005 regarding free zones. The Cabinet then approved a draft decision to establish an artificial intelligence committee, where the committee will be established by the Ministry of Transport and Communications called the Artificial Intelligence Committee.

The committee will specialise in a number of matters, including establishing mechanisms for the implementation of Qatar’s strategy for artificial intelligence, following up on that in coordination with the ministries and concerned authorities in the country, and supervising programmes and initiatives related to artificial intelligence launched by the ministries and concerned authorities in the country. It will also ensure access to the sectors, its completion and review in coordination with those ministries and authorities, and the development of recommendations for plans and programmes for preparing human cadres in the field of artificial intelligence applications, in coordination with the authorities concerned, and proposing activities and events to support emerging companies in the field of artificial intelligence and scientific research in this field.

The Cabinet then approved a draft decision of the Minister of Finance regarding determining the procedures and conditions for appointing a tax deputy and assigned obligations.

Centres for people with special needs will continue operations provided a maximum of five people are present per session, and all workers have taken both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine