Cabinet further eases COVID-19 restrictions under Phase 3 plan

QNA Doha The Cabinet has further eased some of the restrictions under the Phase 3 plan of gradually lifting the COVID-19 curbs. The Cabinet, chaired by Pri...

QNADohaThe Cabinet has further eased some of the restrictions under the Phase 3 plan of gradually lifting the COVID-19 curbs.The Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister and Minister of Interior HE Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Al Thani, took the decision on Wednesday after reviewing the report of the Supreme Committee for Crisis Management regarding the plan to gradually lift the restrictions. The decisions will come into force from August 6.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.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.Employees, who have not receive or complete both doses of their 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, have recovered from the disease, are exempt from taking the rapid antigen test.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 continue to open for daily and Friday prayers, and children are allowed to enter. 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 35 people who have completed both doses of the vaccine, or 10 people who have not completed or have yet to receive doses of the vaccine, are allowed in outdoor areas of homes or a majlis.Similarly 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.Weddings are allowed 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 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 20 people or family members residing in the same house. Individual sports such as walking, running and cycling are allowed, allowing the opening of playgrounds and exercise equipment in those places. Private beaches will continue 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 services and public transport services will continue to operate at a maximum capacity of 50 percent throughout the week, while closing the smoking areas and banning eating and drinking inside the services.Driving schools will continue to operate at a maximum capacity of 50 percent. All workers in the schools must have completed their COVID-19 vaccinations.Theatres and cinemas will continue to operate at 30 percent of the capacity, provided that 75 percent of the customers have completed doses of COVID-19 vaccine. Children are allowed to enter and they will be 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, and all the instructors working at these centres have taken both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.Nurseries to remain open and they can provide their services at a maximum capacity of 50 percent, provided all workers take both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.Museums and public libraries will continue operating 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 both indoors and outdoors will continue, while preparatory training for local and international tournaments approved by the MOPH will be allowed.Training of amateurs will be allowed with a maximum of 35 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 MOPH, with the presence of fans not surpassing 50 percent capacity of the open-air venue, provided 75 percent have completed both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. Those who did not complete or did not receive doses of the COVID-19 vaccine must undergo rapid antigen testing for COVID-19 approved by the MOPH within 24 hours before the event. For closed venues, fans not surpassing 30 percent of the capacity will be allowed and they must have completed both the doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.Organisation of conferences, exhibitions and events will allowed with a capacity not exceeding 50 percent after obtaining the approval of the Ministry of Public Health.Malls will continue to operate at a maximum capacity of 50 percent, with children allowed in. Allowing the opening of food courts with a maximum capacity of 30 percent, as well as all prayers areas and changing rooms.Restaurants and cafes will continue 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 20 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 provided that all workers in those boats and yachts have completed doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. The number of passengers on those boats and yachts should not exceed 50 percent of its capacity and a maximum of 25 people who have completed both 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 will be allowed among the 25 people. 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 throughout the week with a maximum capacity of 50 percent. 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 continue to operate at a maximum capacity of 50 percent, provided that all workers in these facilities and clients have completed both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. Only one child at a time is allowed to be present inside these establishments.Amusement parks and all entertainment centres are allowed to open 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.Health clubs, gyms, massage services, sauna and steam rooms, jacuzzi services, and Moroccan and Turkish baths can operate 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.Swimming pools and water parks can operate 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 vaccine, with children allowed in and counted among the remaining 25 percent that do not receive the COVID-19 vaccine.Private healthcare facilities can operated at full capacity provided all workers in those facilities have completed both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.Cleaning and hospitality companies can provide their services through their employees who have completed both 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 full capacity 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 - shall take the necessary measures in this regard, to ensure compliance with the health requirements and prescribed precautionary measures.The Cabinet then took necessary measures to ratify an agreement between the government of Qatar and the government of Vietnam on the encouragement of mutual protection of investments.It also took necessary measures to ratify an agreement between the government of Qatar and the government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo regarding the elimination of double taxation with respect to taxes on income and the prevention of tax evasion and avoidance.The Cabinet also took necessary measures to ratify an agreement between the government of Qatar and the government of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea on mutual exemption of visa requirement for holders of diplomatic, special and service passports.It also took necessary measures to ratify an agreement the government of Qatar and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights regarding the establishment of United Nations Human Rights Training and Documentation Centre for South-West Asia and the Arab Region in Doha.The Cabinet then approved Qatar Tourism’s participation in a number of exhibitions to be held during 2021