Easing Covid restrictions: 80% employees allowed to work from office

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

* All employees need to take weekly rapid antigen test. Those who had taken both doses of the vaccine, those recovered from the disease and those whose health condition that does not allow them to, are exempted. 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. Following the meeting, HE the Minister of Justice and Acting Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Dr. Issa bin Saad Al Jafali Al Nuaimi issued the following statement: At the outset of the meeting, the cabinet was briefed by HE Minister of Public Health on the latest developments in efforts to curb Covid-19. After reviewing the plan to gradually lift restrictions, the cabinet decided the following: 1- Allowing, according to the need of work, a maximum of 80 percent of the total number of employees in the government sector in each business entity to work from the office, with the rest working remotely or upon request depending on the circumstances. The exception are to the military, security and health sectors. 2- Allowing, according to the need of work, a maximum of 80 percent of the total number of employees in private sector in each business entity are allowed to work from the office, with the rest working remotely or upon request depending on the circumstances. The exception are to the military, security and health sectors. 3- Continuing to allow meetings for employees and workers in the government and private sectors present at their workplace with the attendance of no more than 15 people, who must have completed both doses of the Covid-19 vaccine. Others who didn't can only attend the meeting remotely using modern technological means. 4- All employees in the public and private sector must carry out a rapid antigen test that is accredited by the Ministry of Public Health on a weekly basis. This applies to employees who did not receive or continue all the doses of their Covid-19 vaccines. Those who did take both doses, recovered from the disease, or those whose health condition does not allow based on a medical report accredited by MoPH, are exempt from taking the rapid antigen test. 5- 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. 6- All citizens and residents must continue to activate their EHTERAZ app on their smartphones when leaving the house for any reason. 7- Mosques shall continue opening 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. 8- Allowing a maximum of 10 people who have completed doses of the Covid-19 vaccine to be in closed places in homes, or a maximum of five people if one of them did not complete both vaccine doses. A maximum of 20 people who have completed both doses of the Covid-19 vaccine, or 10 people who have not completed or did not receive doses of the Covid-19 vaccine in outdoor areas of homes. 9- Allowing weddings at independent wedding halls and wedding halls in hotels with a maximum capacity of 40 people, provided at least 75 percent of the attendance have completed both doses of the Covid-19 vaccine. 10- Allowing gatherings or sitting in public parks, beaches, and the corniche for a maximum of 10 people or family members residing in the same house, and individual sports such as walking, running and cycling are allowed, while continuing to close playgrounds and sports equipment in those places, and allowing the opening of private beaches not exceeding 40 percent of its capacity. 11- 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. 12- Buses must continue to operate at half their capacity, while taking the precautionary measures. 13- Permitting the operation of metro services and public transport services at a maximum capacity of 30 percent throughout the week, while closing the smoking areas and banning eating and drinking inside these services. 14- Driving schools shall continue to operate at a maximum capacity of 30 percent. All workers in the schools must have completed their Covid-19 vaccination. 15- Cinemas and theaters can operate at a maximum capacity of 30 percent, provided at least 75 percent of the attendance have taken the two doses of the Covid-19 vaccines. Children under 12 are not allowed in. 16- Continuation of educational centers and private training centers to provide their services at a maximum capacity of 30 percent, provided that all the instructors working at in these centers have taken both doses of the Covid-19 vaccine. 17- Nurseries to remain open and providing their services at a maximum capacity of 30 percent, provided all workers take both doses of the Covid-19 vaccine. 18- museums and public libraries to continue operating at a maximum capacity of 50 percent. 19- Centers for people with special needs to continue and that their educational capacity for a maximum of five people a session, provided all workers take both doses of the Covid-19 vaccine. 20- Continuation of professional sports training both indoors and outdoors, permitting preparatory training for local and international tournaments approved by the Ministry of Public Health without, and allowing the training of amateurs with a maximum of 20 people in open spaces who have completed both doses of the Covid-19 vaccine, and a maximum of 10 people indoors, provided they also take the two doses of the Covid-19 vaccine, with no public attendance. 21- Approving the hosting of local and international sporting events after obtaining the approval of the Ministry of Public Health, with the presence fans not surpassing the 30 percent capacity of the open-space venue, provided that among that 75 percent of the public completed both doses of the Covid-19 vaccine, and allowing the presence of no more than 20 percent of the capacity of the public in closed places, provided that they have completed doses of the (Covid-19) vaccine. 22- Approving the organization of conferences, exhibitions and events with a capacity not exceeding 30 percent, after obtaining the approval of the Ministry of Public Health. 23- Malls can operate at a maximum capacity of 50 percent, but children under 12 are not allowed in. Allowing the opening of food courts not exceeding 30 percent and prayer areas. Changing rooms remain closed. 24- Approving restaurants and cafes to provide food and beverage on the following conditions: A- A capacity card that does not exceed 50 percent for restaurants and cafes that have the Clean Qatar certificate, and a capacity card that does not exceed 30 percent for restaurants and cafes that meet the conditions determined by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry in open spaces. B- A capacity card that does not exceed 30 percent for restaurants and cafes that have a Clean Qatar certificate, and a capacity card that does not exceed 15 percent for restaurants and cafes that meet the conditions determined by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, provided that all customers who have completed doses of the Covid-19 vaccine must be indoors. 25- Approving the rent of boats and tourist yachts, provided that all workers in those boats and yachts have completed doses of the Covid-19 vaccine, and that the number of passengers on those boats and yachts does not exceed 50 percent of its capacity and a maximum of 15 who have completed doses of the Covid-19 vaccine, while allowing the presence of 3 within the mentioned percentage of those who did not complete or did not receive doses of the Covid-19 vaccine, and owners of personal boats and yachts, if used, are obligated to the percentage, number and controls referred to. 26- The continuation of the work of the popular markets throughout the week, with a capacity not exceeding 50 percent. Children under 12 are not allowed in. 27- Continuing the work of wholesale markets with a capacity not exceeding 50 percent. Children under 12 are not allowed in. 28- Beauty Salons and barbershops can operate at a maximum capacity of 30 percent, provided that all workers in these facilities and clients have completed taking both doses of the Covid-19 vaccine. 29- Allowing amusement parks and all entertainment centers to be opened according to the following conditions: A- At a maximum capacity of 30 percent for open air amusement parks and entertainment centers. B- At a maximum capacity of 20 percent for indoor amusement parks and entertainment centers, provided that 75 percent of the customers who have completed doses of the (Covid-19) vaccine are among that percentage. 30- Continuing to allow health clubs, gyms, massage services, sauna and steam rooms, jacuzzi services, and Moroccan and Turkish baths at a maximum capacity of 40 percent, provided that all workers in these facilities and customers have completed both doses of the Covid-19 vaccine. 31- Continuing to allow the opening of swimming pools and water parks according to the following: A- Maximum capacity of 40 percent for outdoor pools and waterparks. B- Maximum capacity of 20 percent for indoor pools and waterparks, only customers who have completed doses of the Covid-19 vaccine are allowed to enter.