The regular meeting of the Cabinet happened this afternoon at the Amiri Diwan and was presided by the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior His Excellency Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Al Thani. The Cabinet announced a new set of precautionary measures to be brought into effect from January 9.

The new measures are set to come into force from this Saturday and will continue to be in force until further notice. The decision comes in the wake of the rapidly surging cases of Covid-19 in Qatar, and the following has been decided:

1. All public and private sector employees are still allowed to work from their workplaces.
2. Only those who have received the Covid-19 vaccine are allowed in meetings at the workplace with the number of people not exceeding 15. This is for both government and private sector employees and workers.
3. Public and private sector employees and workers who have not received the vaccine are required to do a rapid antigen test on a weekly basis. However, employees and workers who have completed doses of the vaccine and have recovered from Covid-19 aren’t required to test weekly.
4. Wearing face masks is mandatory in all open and closed public spaces, except for those who practice sports in open spaces.
5. All citizens, residents, and visitors must continue to activate the EHTERAZ application on their phones before leaving their homes.
6. Mosques can continue to remain open for daily prayers and Friday prayers while adhering to precautionary measures prescribed by the Ministry of Public Health and the Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs—with respect to the opening of toilets and ablution facilities in their premises. Children under 12 years are not to be allowed entry into the mosques.
7. 7. Social gatherings in homes and majlis can continue based on the following:

7.  

   1. In closed spaces, a maximum of 10 people who have completed their vaccine doses are allowed. This number is excluding the number of family members who reside in the same home.
   2. In open spaces, a maximum of 15 people who have completed their vaccine doses are allowed. This number is excluding the number of family members who reside in the same home.

8. In closed spaces, a maximum of 10 people who have completed their vaccine doses are allowed. This number is excluding the number of family members who reside in the same home.
9. In open spaces, a maximum of 15 people who have completed their vaccine doses are allowed. This number is excluding the number of family members who reside in the same home.
10. Wedding parties can be held with a maximum of 40 people who are vaccinated and can be held only in hotels or independent wedding halls. The presence of people must not exceed more than 50% of an open wedding hall up to a maximum of 80 people.
11. Gatherings in public parks, beaches, and the Corniche must not exceed 15 people or family members residing in the same house. The Cabinet has allowed practicing individual sports, such as walking, cycling, and running. All beaches and places with playfgrounds and sports equipment are allowed to open provided capacity doesn’t exceed 75%. Public toilets are also allowed to open in gardens, as specified by the Ministry of Municipality.

10. While traveling in a motor vehicle, all citizens, resident, and visitors must ensure that only four people in the car, including the driver. The rule is an exception only for the family members residing in the same house.
11. People transported by buses must be within 60% of the bus capacity, while adhering to precautionary protocols and social distancing.
12. Metro services and public transport services can continue to operate at 60% capacity throughout the week. Designated smoking places will remain closed, and no food or drink is to be allowed on any public transport.
13. Driving schools are allowed to continue operating at a capacity within 50%, provided all trainers and trainees are vaccinated.
14. Cinemas and theatres, along with their services are permitted to continue at 50% capacity provided all visitors are vaccinated.
15. Education centers and private training centers can continue operations within 50% capacity and a maximum of 50 people in a hall, provided all trainers and trainees have completed doses of the Covid-19 vaccine.
16. All workers in nurseries must be vaccinated and the nurseries can remain open at 50% capacity.
17. Museums and public libraries are allowed to remain open at full capacity as long as all staff and visitors are fully vaccinated.
18. In centers designated for people with special needs, all educational sessions are allowed to have a maximum of 5 people per session, provided all trainers are vaccinated.
19. Sports training in indoor and open spaces for local international tournaments are restricted to a maximum of 40 people in open and 30 people in closed spaces respectively. This is applicable for training of age group 18 years and below. However, the training for children below 12 years in private clubs has been suspended.
20. Provided the fans are vaccinated, local and international sporting events can operate at 50% capacity in open and 30% capacity in closed spaces. All local and special leagues sporting events, tournaments, and community sports activities are suspended.
21. Conferences, exhibitions, and events are allowed to be conducted as follows:

1. Capacity within 50% in open spaces
2. Capacity limited to 30% in closed spaces

In every case, prior approval is required from the Ministry of Public Health, provided all organizers and participants are vaccinated and the events occur with prescribed precautionary protocols in place.

22. Malls and commercial complexes can function at 75% capacity ensuring all visitors are fully vaccinated and the food squares can be 30% occupied in all commercial complexes.
23. Restaurants and cafes are permitted to serve food and beverages based on these conditions:

1. Capacity of 75% for restaurants and cafes with the ‘Qatar Clean’ certificate and a capacity of 40% for restaurants and cafes that meet conditions determined by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, in open spaces.
2. Capacity of 50% for restaurants and cafes with the ‘Qatar Clean’ certificate and a capacity of 30% for restaurants and cafes that meet conditions determined by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, in closed spaces. Children under 12 years are allowed entry only when accomopanied by fully vaccinated family members.

24. Charter services of tourist boats, yachts, and pleasure boats can function at 30% capacity and a maximum of 15 people, provided all workers and passengers are fully vaccinated.

Personal yachts and boats are only allowed 12 people on board, with the exception of family members living in the same house.

25. Traditional souqs and wholesale markets are allowed to function at 75% capacity and all stores therein must adhere to the maximum capacity as prescribed by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. Children of all ages are allowed entry.
26. Beauty and hairdressing salons are permitted to operate at 50% capacity, given that all workers are fully vaccinated.
27. Amusement parks and recreational centers are allowed a 75% capacity limit in open spaces and 50% capacity limit in closed spaces.
28. 50% capacity is mentioned as the limit for all physical health clubs, gyms, training clubs and massage service. However, all shower rooms, saunas, Jacuzzis, Morrocan and Turkish baths, and steam services are closed.
29. Swimming pools and water parks are allowed to function at 75% capacity in open spaces and 50% capacity for indoor pools and waterparks.
30. Medical services being provided in private healthcare facilities can operate at full capacity provided all frontline workers and medical staff are fully vaccinated.
31. Cleaning and hospitality companies can continue to allow their vaccinated workers to provide full contracted work hours as before, in full capacity.

All these precautionary measures have been set in place by the individual jurisdiction of the Ministry of Public Health, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, and other relevant government agencies. They will take the necessary measures to ensure compliance on all fronts. All these changes are effective from Saturday, January 8, 2022, until further notice.