Cabinet announces Covid preventive and precautionary measures
Gulf Times
HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Al-Thani chairs the Cabinet's regular meeting held at its seat at the Amiri Diwan
The Cabinet on Wednesday decided to allow all employees in the government and private sectors to carry out their work at their places of work, in continuation of the precautionary measures that have been taken to combat Covid-19 pandemic. All employees and workers in the governmental and private sectors who are unvaccinated or have not completed the two Covid-19 doses to are to undergo rapid antigen tests approved by the Ministry of Public Health on a weekly basis. Those who have recovered from Covid-19, as well as those that have taken at least two Covid-19 vaccines, are exempted, the statement issued by HE Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Sulaiti after the Cabinet meeting said. HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Al-Thani chaired the Cabinet's regular meeting held at its seat at the Amiri Diwan. At the outset of the meeting, the Cabinet reviewed the report of HE Minister of Public Health Dr. Hanan Mohammed Al Kuwari on the latest developments to limit the Covid-19 spread and the report of the Supreme Committee for Crisis Management in this regard. The Cabinet affirmed the continuation of the precautionary measures that have been taken to combat the pandemic, and in the interest of the health and safety of all members of society, it decided the following measures also: 1. Continuing to allow meetings to be held for employees and workers in the government and private sectors who are at their workplace in the presence of no more than 15 people who have completed doses of the Covid-19 vaccine, provided that the rest of the meetings use modern technical means. 2- Continuing to oblige all employees and workers in the governmental and private sectors that are unvaccinated or have not completed the two Covid-19 doses to conduct rapid antigen tests approved by the Ministry of Public Health on a weekly basis. Those who have recovered from Covid-19, as well as those that have taken at least two Covid-19 vaccines, are exempted. 3- Continuing to wear masks in all open and closed public places, with the exception of people who practice sports in open places. 4- Continuing to obligate all citizens, residents and visitors to activate the EHTERAZ application on smart phones when leaving the house for any reason. 5- Continuing to open mosques to perform daily duties and Friday prayers, children under 12 years old are not allowed to enter, while adhering to the precautionary measures set by the Ministry of Public Health and the Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs. Toilets and ablution facilities remain open. 6- Continuing to allow social gatherings in homes and councils according to the following: A) The maximum presence of 10 people who have completed Covid-19 doses in closed places in homes and majlis, with the exception of family members residing in the same house. B) The maximum presence of 15 people who have completed Covid-19 doses in open spaces in homes and majlis, with the exception of family members residing in the same house. 7- Continuing to allow weddings to be held in wedding halls in hotels and independent wedding halls only, and for people who have completed doses of the Covid-19 vaccine, according to the following: A) The presence of no more than 30 percent of the capacity of the closed wedding hall, and a maximum of 40 people. B) The presence of no more than 50 percent of the capacity of the open wedding hall, and a maximum of 80 people. 8- Continuing to allow gatherings or sitting in public parks, beaches and the Corniche with a maximum of 15 people or family members residing in the same house. Individual sports such as walking, running and cycling are allowed, as well as the use of playgrounds and sports equipment in those places. Private beaches remain open, not exceeding 75 percent of the capacity, and toilets in the parks specified by the Ministry of Municipality. 9- Continuing the work of obliging all citizens and residents when leaving and moving for any reason that no more than four people are in the vehicle, including the vehicle's driver, with the exception of family members residing in the same house when leaving and moving in vehicles. 10- Continuing to allow people to be transported by buses not to exceed 60 percent of the bus's capacity, while taking precautionary measures. 11- Continuing the operation of metro services and public transport services, not exceeding 60 percent of the capacity throughout the week, with the continued closure of places designated for smoking and not allowing food and drink in the mentioned means of transport. 12- Continuing to allow the opening of driving schools, and to provide their services with a capacity not exceeding 50 percent, provided that all trainers and trainees have completed doses of the Covid-19 vaccine. 13- Continuing to allow the opening of theaters and cinemas and the provision of their services not exceeding 50 percent of the capacity, provided that all have completed doses of the Covid-19 vaccine. 14- Continuing to allow educational centers and private training centers to provide their services with a capacity not exceeding 50 percent and a maximum of 50 people in one hall, provided that all trainers and trainees have completed the Covid-19 vaccine doses. 15- Continuing to allow the opening of nurseries and the provision of their services with a capacity not exceeding 50 percent, provided that all employees who work in nurseries have completed the Covid-19 vaccine doses. 16- Allowing the opening of museums and public libraries with a full capacity, provided that all visitors to those museums and public libraries have completed the Covid-19 vaccine doses. 17- Continuing to allow educational sessions to be held in centers designated for people with special needs, with no more than five people in one session, provided that all trainers who work in those centers have completed the Covid-19 vaccine doses. 18- Continuing to allow professional sports training, whether in indoor or outdoor, allowing preparatory training for local and international tournaments approved by the Ministry of Public Health, allowing training for age groups of 18 years old and under for Qatari sports clubs and federations with a maximum of 40 people in outdoor spaces and 30 people in indoor spaces, for those who completed the Covid-19 vaccine doses, with no public attendance allowed, and the suspending training for children under 12 years old in private clubs. 19- Continuing to allow the organization of local and international sporting events after obtaining the approval of the Ministry of Public Health, allowing fans attendance with a maximum capacity of 50 percent in outdoor spaces for those who completed the Covid-19 vaccine doses and 30 percent in indoor facilities for those who completed the Covid-19 vaccine doses, suspending local and private sports leagues and tournaments for age groups and adults, banning community sports tournaments and activities. 20- Continuing to allow the organization of conferences, exhibitions and events in accordance with the following: A- A capacity not exceeding 50 percent in outdoor spaces. B- A capacity not exceeding 30 percent in indoor places. In all cases, prior approval from the Ministry of Public Health is required before holding any conference, exhibition or event, provided that all organizers and participants in such conferences, exhibitions and events have completed the Covid-19 vaccine doses. 21- Continuing to allow the work of commercial complexes with a capacity not exceeding 75 percent, while allowing entry to those who have completed the Covid-19 vaccine doses, allowing the opening of common restaurant areas within the commercial complexes with a maximum capacity of 30 percent, allowing the opening of mosques, changing rooms and toilets in those complexes, with all shops in those complexes adhering to the maximum number of customers allowed in them, which is determined by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. 22- Continuing to allow restaurants and cafes to serve food and beverages according to the following: A- In outdoor spaces, a maximum capacity of 75 percent for restaurants and cafes that have the "Qatar Clean" certificate and a maximum capacity of 40 percent for restaurants and cafes that meet the conditions determined by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. B- In indoor places, a maximum capacity of 50 percent for restaurants and cafes that have the "Qatar Clean" certificate, and a maximum capacity of 30 percent for restaurants and cafes that meet the conditions determined by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, provided that all customers have completed the Covid-19 vaccine doses, while allowing the entry of children under 12 years of age accompanied by their families only. In all cases, all workers in those facilities have completed the Covid-19 vaccine doses. 23- Continuing to allow the opening of rental services of boats, tourist yachts and pleasure boats, provided that all workers have completed doses of the Covid-19 vaccine, and that the number of passengers on these boats and yachts does not exceed 30 percent of its capacity with a maximum of 15 people who have completed doses of the Covid-19 vaccine. Owners of boats and personal yachts are obligated not to have more than 12 people on board, with the exception of family members residing in the same house. 24- Allowing popular markets to operate every day with a capacity not exceeding 75 percent, and not allowing children under 12 years old to enter, with all stores in those markets adhering to the maximum number of customers allowed to be there, which is determined by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. 25- Continuing the functioning of wholesale markets at a capacity not exceeding 75 percent, and allowing entry to those who have completed doses of the Covid-19 vaccine. All stores must adhere to the maximum number of customers allowed inside, which is determined by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, and allowing auctions to be held in those markets. 26- Continuing to allow the opening of beauty and hairdressing salons with a capacity not exceeding 50 percent, provided that all workers in those facilities and clients have completed doses of the Covid-19 vaccine. 27- Continuing to allow the opening of amusement parks and all entertainment centers according to the following: A) A capacity not exceeding 75 percent for amusement parks and recreational centers in open spaces. B) A capacity not exceeding 50 percent for amusement parks and recreational centers in closed places, and allowing entry to customers who have completed doses of the Covid-19 vaccine. In all cases, all employees of these facilities must have completed doses of the Covid-19 vaccine. 28- Continuing to allow the opening of health clubs, physical training clubs, and massage services, not exceeding 50 percent of the capacity, dressing rooms, showers, saunas, steam, jacuzzi services, and Moroccan and Turkish baths are closed, provided that all employees of these facilities and customers have completed doses of the Covid-19 vaccine. 29- Continuing to allow the opening of swimming pools and water parks according to the following: A) A capacity not exceeding 75 percent for all swimming pools and water parks in open spaces. B) A capacity not exceeding 50 percent for all indoor swimming pools and water parks, and allowing entry to customers who have completed doses of the Covid-19 vaccine. In all cases, all employees of these facilities must have completed doses of the Covid-19 vaccine. 30- Continuing to allow medical services to be provided in private health care facilities with the full capacity of these facilities, provided that all workers have completed doses of the Covid-19 vaccine. 31- 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, allowing the provision of cleaning and hospitality services to the facilities contracting with it during working hours with a full capacity, 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, take the necessary measures in this regard, to ensure compliance with health requirements, precautionary measures and established controls. Fourth: These decisions shall come into force as of Saturday, Jan. 8, 2022, until further notice. Then, the Cabinet considered the topics on the agenda as follows: 1) A draft decision of HE Minister of Transport to issue the executive regulations of Law No. 9 of 2019 regarding the road transport of hazardous materials. 2) A draft decision of HE Minister of Commerce and Industry regarding the registration mechanism for companies of persons and entities participating in activities related to hosting the FIFA 2022 Qatar World Cup. Second - Approval of a draft memorandum of understanding template for cooperation in the field of civil aviation between the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority and the civil aviation authorities in other countries. Third - The Cabinet reviewed the results of the work and recommendations of the Minimum Wage Committee, and took the appropriate decision. The committee recommended continuing with the estimated value of the currently applied minimum wage. The committee is responsible for studying and reviewing the minimum wage, in accordance with the following controls: The minimum wage is reviewed at least once a year, taking into account economic factors, including economic growth, competitiveness and productivity, and the needs of workers, employees and their families.