No masks required in public areas: Cabinet

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 Minister of Municipality and Environment and Acting Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Abdullah bin Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Subaei issued the following statement: At the outset of the meeting, the Cabinet was briefed by HE the Minister of Public Health on the latest developments in efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19. After reviewing the report of the Supreme Committee for Crisis Management regarding the plan to gradually lift the restrictions imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic, and in the interest of the health and safety of all members of society, the Cabinet decided the following: First: 1- All employees in the government sector and private sector return to their workplace. 2- Continue to allow meetings to be held for employees in the government and private sectors who are at their workplace in the presence of no more than 30 people, provided that the rest of the meetings are done remotely. 3- Continue to require all employees in the public and private sectors to 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 complete both doses of their COVID-19 vaccines. Those who did take both doses or recovered from the disease are exempt from taking the rapid antigen test. 4- All citizens and residents must continue to wear masks in closed public places. They are not obligated to wear masks in open public places except in the following cases: A- In organized public activities in markets, exhibitions, and during events. B- On the premises of mosques, schools, universities and hospitals. All workers in establishments whose nature of work requires being in open spaces and communicating with customers must wear masks during their work period. 5- All citizens and residents must continue to activate their EHTERAZ app on their smartphones when leaving the house for any reason. 6- Mosques shall continue opening for daily and Friday prayers, and children are allowed to enter while adhering to the precautionary measures determined by the Ministry of Public Health and the Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs. Toilets and ablution facilities will open as determined by the Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs. 7- Continue to allow presence in homes and Majlises according to the following: A- Allowing a maximum of 30 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 in closed places in homes and majlises. B- Allowing a maximum of 50 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 in outdoor areas of homes or majlises. 

8- Allowing weddings at independent wedding halls and wedding halls in hotels as follows: A- The presence of no more than (30 percent) of the capacity of the indoor wedding hall, a maximum of (250) people, and the number of people who did not complete or receive doses of the COVID-19 vaccine should not exceed (20) people within the aforementioned percentage or maximum. B- The presence of no more than (50 percent) of the capacity of the outdoor wedding hall, a maximum of (400) people, and the number of people who did not complete or receive doses of the COVID-19 vaccine should not exceed (50) people within the aforementioned percentage or maximum. In all cases, those who have not completed or have not received doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, including children aged six years and older, must take the Rapid Antigen test approved by the Ministry of Public Health. 9- Continuing to allow gatherings or sitting in public parks, beaches, and the corniche for a maximum of 30 people or family members residing in the same house, and individual sports such as walking, running and cycling are allowed, and allowing to open playgrounds and sports equipment in those places, and allowing the opening of toilets in parks specified by the Ministry of Municipality and Environment. 10- Continuing to oblige all citizens, residents and visitors when leaving and moving for any reason not to have more than four passengers in the vehicle, including the driver, with the exception of family members residing in the same house when leaving and moving in vehicles. 11- Continuing to allow people to be transported by buses not to exceed (75 percent) of the bus capacity, while taking the precautionary measures. 12- Continuing the operation of metro services and public transport services, not exceeding (75 percent) throughout the week, while continuing to close the smoking areas and banning eating and drinking inside these services. 13- Continuing to allow driving schools to operate and provide services as follows: A- A full capacity if (75 percent) or more of the total number of trainees have completed the COVID-19 vaccine doses. B- A capacity that does not exceed (75 percent) if the percentage of trainees who have completed doses of the COVID-19 vaccine is less than (75 percent) of the total number of trainees. In all cases, all employees working in the school must complete doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, while obligating all trainees who did not complete or did not receive doses of the "COVID-19" vaccine, to take the Rapid Antigen test approved by the Ministry of Public Health.

14- Continuing to allow the opening of theaters and cinemas and the provision of their services not exceeding 50 percent of the capacity, provided that 75 percent of the customers have completed doses of COVID-19 vaccine, and allowing children under the age of 12 to enter and counting them among the 25 percent allowed for those who did not complete or did not receive doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. 15- Educational centers and private training centers can continue to provide their services at a maximum capacity of 75 percent, provided that 75 percent of the trainees have completed doses of COVID-19 vaccine, and all the instructors working at these centers have taken both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, while obligating trainees who did not receive or complete both doses of their COVID-19 vaccines to carry out a rapid antigen test that is accredited by the MOPH on a weekly basis. 16- Nurseries to remain open and providing their services at a maximum capacity of 75 percent, provided all workers take both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. 17- Museums and public libraries to continue operating with a full capacity. 18- Centers for people with disabilities 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. 19- Continuation of professional sports training both indoors and outdoors, permitting preparatory training for local and international tournaments approved by the MOPH, and allowing the training of amateurs only by: A- Training age groups (18 and under) with a maximum capacity of 40 persons outdoors, and 30 persons indoors, provided that all have completed both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, while obligating trainers who did not receive or complete both doses of their COVID-19 vaccines to carry out a rapid antigen test that is accredited by the MOPH, with no public attendance. B- Training children in private clubs with a maximum capacity of 35 persons outdoors who have completed both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, and a maximum capacity of 25 persons who have completed both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, while obligating trainees who did not receive or complete both doses of their COVID-19 vaccines to carry out a rapid antigen test that is accredited by the MOPH, with no public attendance. 20- Continuing to allow the hosting of local and international sporting events after obtaining the approval of the MOPH, with the presence of fans not surpassing the 75 percent capacity of the open-air venue, provided that among those 90 percent have completed both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, and allowing the presence of no more than 50 percent of the capacity of the public in closed places, provided that among that 90 percent have completed both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, while obligating those who did not complete or did not receive doses of the COVID-19 vaccine to carry out a rapid antigen test that is accredited by the MOPH.