Covid restrictions eased from Saturday in Qatar

HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Al-Thani chaired the Cabinet's regular meeting held at at the Amiri Diwan.

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 on Wednesday. At the outset of the meeting, the Cabinet listened to the explanation given by HE Minister of Public Health Dr. Hanan bint Mohamed Al Kuwari on the latest developments to curb the spread of Covid-19. After reviewing the report of the Supreme Committee for Crisis Management regarding the plan to gradually lift the Covid-19 restrictions, it has decided the following: First: 1- Lifting the restrictions imposed on the carrying capacity and the permitted number of means of transportation and open and closed public and private places, taking into account clause 2 of this decision. 2- Entry to closed public places shall be in accordance with the following: A- All citizens, residents, and visitors who have completed doses of the Covid-19 vaccine, those recovering from the disease, and people whose health condition prevents them from taking the vaccine, based on a medical report from the authorities determined by the Ministry of Public Health. B- All citizens, residents and visitors who did not complete or did not receive doses of the Covid-19 vaccine at a rate not exceeding 20 percent of the capacity after conducting a rapid antigen test approved by the Ministry of Public Health, for the following indoor public places: - Physical training clubs. - Weddings. - Sports events. - Conferences, exhibitions and events. - Restaurants and cafes. - Amusement parks and entertainment centers. - Swimming pools and water parks. - Theaters and cinemas. Provided that the rapid antigen test was conducted during the 24 hours prior to entering those indoor places. 3- Adhere to the requirements set by the Ministry of Public Health for holding any conference, exhibition or event. 4- The continuation of all employees in the government sector to carry out their work from the office and allowing all employees in the private sector to work from the office. 5- Continuing to oblige all employees and workers in the public and private sectors to conduct a rapid antigen test approved by the Ministry of Public Health, on a weekly basis, for employees and workers who have not received or completed doses of the Covid-19 vaccine. 6- Obligating all citizens, residents and visitors to wear masks in all indoor public places, and not obligating them to wear masks in open public places unless they are within the public activities organized in markets, exhibitions and during events. All workers in establishments, whose nature of work requires being in open spaces and communicating with customers, must wear masks during their work period. 7- Continuing to obligate all citizens, residents and visitors to activate the EHTERAZ application on smartphones when leaving the house for any reason. 8- Continuing to allow weddings to take place, taking into account the restrictions imposed on the entry of people who did not complete or did not receive 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, procedures, precautionary measures and established controls. Fourth: These decisions shall come into effect as of Saturday, March 12, 2022, until further notice. Then the Cabinet considered the topics on the agenda as follows: First - Approval of a draft law regulating the import, possession, use and sewing of military clothing and its accessories and supplies. Second - Approval of the Prime Minister's draft decision to re-form the National Committee for Food Security. Third - Approval of the proposal to add a representative of the Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs to the membership of the Board of Directors of the Regulatory Authority for Charitable Activities. Fourth - Approval of a draft memorandum of understanding for cooperation in the field of adolescents and youth between the government of the State of Qatar and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF).