The Cabinet has announced its decision to proceed with the third phase of the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions in Qatar, effective Friday, July 9, 2021.

His Excellency Qatar’s Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Al Thani chaired the meeting, which was held at the Amiri Diwan.

The cabinet gave its nod of approval to the following:

- Continue with mask-wearing requirements when leaving home, unless alone or with family in a vehicle.

- Continue with the requirement to activate the EHTERAZ app when leaving home.

- No more than 15 vaccinated people, or 5 unvaccinated or mixed groups, to gather indoors.

- No more than 30 vaccinated people, or 10 unvaccinated or mixed groups, to gather outdoors.

- Mosques continue to open for daily and Friday prayers for those over 7, while toilets and ablution facilities remain closed.

- Wedding capacity to increase to 80 people at hotels and wedding venues, of which at least 75% must be vaccinated.

- Public transport and Metro to increase to 50 percent capacity while buses to operate at 30% capacity.

- Driving schools to increase to 50 percent capacity. Employees must be vaccinated.

- All boat staff must be vaccinated.

- Public transport smoking areas will remain closed, while food outlets will be subject to the same rules as restaurants and cafes.

- Private boats are allowed to operate at 50 percent capacity, and boat rentals and tourist boats at 30 percent capacity. This includes up to 20 people, of which up to 3 can be unvaccinated.

- Continued operation of workplaces at 80 percent capacity, with essential meetings for up to 15 people.

- Continuing with a rapid antigen test for COVID-19 on a weekly basis, for employees and workers who did not receive or complete doses of the vaccine. 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.

- Wholesale markets and souqs to increase to 50 percent capacity, with no age restrictions.

- Cinemas and theatres to continue at 30 percent capacity. At least 75 percent of customers must be vaccinated. Allowing the entry of children and counting them as part of 25 percent, who did not complete or did not receive doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.

- Increase to 80 percent capacity for vaccinated hospitality and cleaning employees at workplaces during working hours.

- Continued hosting of select exhibitions, conferences, and fairs at 30 percent capacity, following a risk assessment and approval from MoPH.

- Shopping centers to continue at 50 percent capacity, including food courts operating at 30 percent capacity, with no age restrictions.

- A capacity not exceeding 50 percent for restaurants and cafes that have obtained the "Clean Qatar" certificate, and capacity not exceeding 30 percent for restaurants and cafes that meet the conditions determined by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, in open spaces.

-  A capacity not exceeding 50 percent for restaurants and cafes that have a "Clean Qatar" certificate, and a capacity not exceeding 15 percent for restaurants and cafes that meet the conditions determined by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, provided that all customers have completed vaccine doses. Only children accompanied by their families allow in closed spaces.

- More than one vaccinated employee can continue to provide hospitality and cleaning services within a home.

- Barbershops and beauty salons to increase to 50 percent capacity. All employees and customers must be vaccinated. No more than one child should be present in those salons at the same time.

- Amusement parks and entertainment centers to increase to 50 percent capacity outdoors and 30 percent capacity indoors. 75 percent of customers must be vaccinated. Children are allowed to enter and will count among the 25 percent, who did not complete or did not receive doses of the vaccine.

- Continue to allow medical services in private health care facilities with full capacity, provided all workers are vaccinated.

- Up to 15 people or family members from one house can gather at parks, beaches, and the corniche, including permitted use of playgrounds and sports equipment.

- Professional sports training allowed indoors and outdoors, while amateur training allows up to 30 vaccinated people outdoors and 15 vaccinated people indoors. No fans allowed.

- Continue to allow organization of local and international sporting events after obtaining the approval of the MoPH, and allowing the presence of no more than 50 percent of the capacity in open spaces, provided that 75 percent of the public who have completed vaccine doses, with those who did not complete or did not receive doses to conduct a Rapid Antigen test approved by the MoPH within 24 hours before the event. 30 percent capacity in closed places, provided they are vaccinated.

- Gyms, training clubs, and spas to increase to 50 percent capacity. Employees and customers must be vaccinated.

- Blended learning to increase to 50 percent capacity.

- Private educational and training centers to increase to 50 percent capacity. Trainers must be vaccinated and 75 percent of clients should be vaccinated.

- Training allowed for MoPH-approved local and international tournaments. Fans allowed outdoors at 50 percent capacity and indoors at 30 percent capacity, of which at least 75 percent must be vaccinated.

- Pools and water parks to increase to 50 percent capacity outdoors and 30 percent indoors. 75 percent of customers must be vaccinated. Children allowed to enter will be counted among the 25 percent who did not complete or did not receive the vaccine.

--

Make sure to check out our social media to keep track of the latest content.

Instagram - @qatarliving

Twitter - @qatarliving

Facebook - Qatar Living

YouTube - qatarlivingofficial

Cover Image: for illustrative purposes only

Source: QNA