Qatar eases mask policy as cabinet lifts Covid-19 restrictions

Latest COVID-19 Updates in Qatar

The Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, H E Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Al Thani chaired the Cabinet's regular meeting held this afternoon at its headquarters in the Amiri Diwan.

Cabinet announced a few changes in the Covid-19 precautionary measures which shall be effective as of Saturday, February 12, 2022, until further notice.

The cabinet announced its decision to make it mandatory for all citizens, residents and visitors to wear masks in closed public places, but it is not required to wear them in open public places except in certain cases.

After the meeting, the following statement was issued:

1- Continuation of all employees in government and private sector to work at their place of work.

2- Continuing to allow meetings for employees and workers in government and private sectors at their workplace with no more than 30 people who are vaccinated.

3-  Continuing to oblige all employees and workers in the public and private sectors to conduct a COVID-19 rapid test (Rapid Antigen) approved by the Ministry of Public Health, every week, for employees and workers who did not receive or complete the COVID-19 vaccine doses. Employees and workers who have completed the COVID-19 vaccine doses and those who have recovered from the disease are exempted from conducting this examination.

4- Obligating all citizens, residents and visitors to wear masks in all closed public places and not required to wear masks in open public places except in the following cases:

- Being part of organized public activities in markets, exhibitions and during events.

- 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.

5- Continuing to obligate all citizens, residents and visitors to activate the EHTERAZ application on smartphones when leaving the house for any reason.

6- Continuing to open mosques to perform daily and Friday prayers and allow children to enter, while adhering to the precautionary measures determined by the Ministry of Public Health and the Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs. Allowing the opening of toilets and ablution facilities in mosques as determined by the Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs.

7- Continuing to allow social gatherings in-home and majlis according to the following:

A- The presence of a maximum of 30 people who are vaccinated, or a maximum of 5 people if all or one of them did not complete or they did not receive doses of the Covid-19 vaccine, in closed spaces in homes and majlis, with the exception of family members residing in the same house.

B- The presence of maximum 50 people, who are vaccinated or a maximum of 10 people if all or one of them did not complete or did not receive doses of the Covid-19 vaccine, in open areas of home and majlis, with the exception of family members residing in the same house.

8- Continuing to allow wedding parties to be held in wedding halls in hotels and independent wedding halls only, according to the following:

A- With the presence of no more than 30% of the capacity of the closed wedding hall, and a maximum of 150 people, and the number of people, if they have not completed or receive doses of the Covid-19 vaccine, not exceeding 20 people within the allowed maximum.

B- No more than 50% of the capacity in open wedding hall, and a maximum of 300 people, and the number of people who have not completed or received doses of the Covid-19 vaccine should not exceed 50 people.

9- Continuing to allow gatherings or sitting in public parks, beaches and the Corniche with a maximum of 30 people or family members residing in the same house, and it is allowed to practice individual sports such as walking, running and cycling, and allowing the opening of playgrounds and sports equipment in those places, and allowing the opening of beaches. 

10- Continuing to work to oblige all citizens, residents and visitors when leaving and moving for any reason, not to have more than four people in the vehicle, including the driver of the vehicle, with the exception of family members residing in the same house when leaving and moving vehicles.

11- Continuing to allow people to be transported by bus, not exceeding 75% of the bus capacity.

12- Continuing the operation of metro services and public transport services, not exceeding 75% of the capacity throughout the week, with the continued closure of places designated for smoking, and not allowing food and drink in the aforementioned means of transport.

13- Continuing to allow the opening of driving schools and the provision of their services, according to the following:
 A- A full capacity, if 75% or more of trainees are vaccinated.
B- A capacity not exceeding 75% if the percentage of trainees who are vaccinated is less than 75% of the total number of trainees.
In all cases, all employees who are working in the school must be vaccinated, with all trainees who have not completed or did not receive doses of the Covid-19 vaccine, to do a rapid antigen test.

14- Continuing to allow the opening of theaters and cinemas and the provision of their services not exceeding 50% of the capacity, provided that among that 75% of customers are vaccinated and allowing the entry of children under 12 years, who will be counted among 25% who are not vaccinated.

15- Continuing to allow educational centers and private training centers to provide their services with a capacity not exceeding 75%, and full capacity if 75% or more of the trainees have completed vaccination, provided that all the trainers who are working in these centers are vaccinated. Also, the trainees who are not vaccinated are obligated to do the rapid antigen test approved by the Ministry of Public Health.

16- Continuing to allow the opening of nurseries and the provision of their services not exceeding 75% of its capacity, provided that all workers in these nurseries have completed their doses of  Covid-19 vaccine.

17- Continuing to allow the opening of museums and public libraries with full capacity as well as allowing entry to everyone, whether those who have completed doses of the Covid-19 vaccine or not. Children are also allowed to enter.

18- Continuing to allow educational sessions to be held in centers designated for people with special needs, with no more than 5 people in one session, provided that all trainers who work in those centers have completed their doses of the Covid-19 vaccine.

19- Continuing to allow professional sports training, whether indoors or outdoors, and to allow preparatory training for local and international tournaments approved by the Ministry of Public Health, and to allow amateur training according to the following:

A- Training of age groups 18 years and under, with a maximum of 40 people in open spaces and 30 people in enclosed spaces, who are fully vaccinated. If not vaccinated the trainees need to take a rapid antigen test for the Coronavirus approved by the Ministry of Public Health. Allowing the public to attend, and not exceeding 30% of the capacity in closed places and 50% of the capacity in open places.

B- Training children in private clubs with a maximum of 35 people in open spaces who are vaccinated, and a maximum of 25 vaccinated people, with obligating the trainees who did not receive doses of the COVID-19 vaccine to take the rapid antigen test approved by the Ministry of Public Health, with no public attendance allowed.

20- Continuing to allow the organisation of local and international sporting events after obtaining the approval of the Ministry of Public Health, and allowing the presence of no more than 75% of the public’s absorptive capacity in open spaces, provided that they have completed doses of the Covid-19 vaccine, and allowing the presence of a maximum of 50% capacity of in indoor places, provided that they have completed doses of the Covid-19 vaccine, and allow the establishment of local and special sports leagues and tournaments for age groups, and community sports tournaments and activities, after obtaining the approval of the Ministry of Public Health.

21- Continuing to allow the organization of conferences, exhibitions and events according to the following:

A- A capacity that does not exceed 75% in open spaces, provided that 90% of the participants have completed doses of the Covid-19 vaccine with the obligation of those who did not complete or did not receive doses of the Covid-19 vaccine, to take a rapid test for the Coronavirus (Rapid Antigen) approved by the Ministry of Public Health.

B- A capacity not exceeding 50%, in closed places, provided that among that percentage, 90% of the participants have completed doses of the Covid-19 vaccine, with obligating those who did not complete or did not receive doses of the Covid-19 vaccine, to conduct a rapid test for the Coronavirus approved by the Ministry of Public Health.

In all cases, approval from the Ministry of Public Health is required before holding any conference, exhibition or event, and that all organizers and participants in such conferences, exhibitions and events have completed doses of the Covid-19 vaccine.

22- Continuing to allow the work of malls with full capacity, and to allow entry to everyone, whether those who have completed doses of the Covid-19 vaccine or not, allow the entry of children, and allow the opening of food courts within the complexes, provided that it does not exceed 50% of the capacity. Allow the opening of chapels, changing rooms and toilets in those complexes, with all shops in those complexes adhering to the maximum number of customers allowed in them, which is determined by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

23- Continuing to allow restaurants and cafes to provide food and beverages according to the following:

A- Full capacity for restaurants and cafes that have the “Clean Qatar” certificate, and a capacity not exceeding 50% for restaurants and cafes, in open spaces, that meet the conditions determined by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

B- Capacity not exceeding 75% for restaurants and cafes that have the “Clean Qatar” certificate, and a capacity not exceeding 40% for restaurants and cafes that meet the conditions determined by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, provided that all customers have completed their doses of Covid-19 vaccine in closed spaces.  Children under 12 years of age, accompanied by their families only, in closed spaces, can also be granted entry.

In all cases, all workers in those facilities must be vaccinated.

24- Continuing to allow chartering services of boats, tourist yachts and leisure boats, provided that all workers in those boats and yachts are vaccinated and that the number of passengers on those boats and yachts does not exceed 50% of its capacity and a maximum of 40. Among them allowing the presence of 5 persons, who have not completed or did not receive doses of the Covid-19 vaccine, including children.

25- Continuing to allow souq to operate on all days of the week with a full capacity, including allowing entry to children, ensuring that all stores in those markets are adhering to the maximum number of customers allowed, which is determined by the Ministry of Trade and Industry.

26- Continuing the work of wholesale markets with a capacity not exceeding 75% as well allowing entry to all, for those who completed doses of the Covid-19 vaccine or not. Children are also allowed to enter, with the commitment of all stores in those markets to the maximum number of customers allowed, which is determined by The Ministry of Commerce and Industry, and permitting the holding of auctions in those markets.

27- Continuing to allow the opening of beauty and barbershops with a capacity not exceeding 50%, provided that all workers in these facilities and clients are vaccinated and allow the entry of children, taking into account that there are no more than two children under 12 years at the same time in those salons.

28- Continuing to allow the opening of amusement parks and all entertainment centers according to the following:
A- A capacity not exceeding 75% in open spaces.
B- A capacity not exceeding 50% in closed places, provided that 75% of the customers are vaccinated, allow the entry of children under 12 years of age, and count them within the percentage of 25% allowed for those who did not complete or did not receive doses of the Covid-19 vaccine.
In all cases, all workers in those facilities must be vaccinated.

29- Continuing to allow the opening of health clubs, gyms and massage services, not exceeding 75% of the capacity, and allowing the opening of changing rooms, showers, jacuzzi services, saunas, steam rooms, Moroccan and Turkish baths, provided that all workers in these facilities and clients are fully vaccinated.

30- Continuing to allow the opening of swimming pools and water parks according to the following:
A- A capacity not exceeding 75% in open spaces.

B- A capacity not exceeding 50% in closed places, provided that 75% of the customers are those who have completed doses of the Covid-19 vaccine, allow the entry of children under 12 years of age, and count them within the percentage of 25% allowed for those who did not complete or did not receive doses of the Covid-19 vaccine.

In all cases, all workers in those facilities must be vaccinated. 

31- Continuing to allow medical services to be provided in private health care facilities with the full capacity of these facilities, provided that all workers are vaccinated. 

32- Continuing to allow cleaning and hospitality companies to provide their services through their vaccinated employees, whether in one or more homes, and allowing cleaning and hospitality services to be provided to the facilities contracting with them during working hours with a full capacity, through their vaccinated employees.

Source: QNA