Cabinet relaxes COVID-19 curbs further

QNA Doha The Cabinet has further relaxed COVID-19 restrictions after reviewing the report of the Supreme Committee for Crisis Management regarding the plan...

QNADohaThe Cabinet has further relaxed COVID-19 restrictions after reviewing the report of the Supreme Committee for Crisis Management regarding the plan to gradually lift the restrictions. The decisions will come into effect from Saturday, March 12, and will remain in force until further notice.The Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister and Minister of Interior HE Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Al Thani, took the decision on Wednesday after the Minister of Public Health HE Dr Hanan bint Mohamed Al Kuwari briefed it on the latest developments to curb the spread of COVID-19. The Cabinet decided to lift the restrictions imposed on the carrying capacity and the permitted number of means of transportation and open and closed public and private places, taking into account clause 2 of this decision.As per the decision, entry to closed public places shall be in accordance with the following: A- All citizens, residents, and visitors who have completed doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, those recovering from the disease, and people whose health condition prevents them from taking the vaccine, based on a medical report from the authorities determined by the Ministry of Public Health.B- All citizens, residents and visitors who did not complete or did not receive doses of the COVID-19 vaccine at a rate not exceeding 20 percent of the capacity after conducting a rapid antigen test approved by the Ministry of Public Health, for the following indoor public places: physical training clubs; weddings; sports events; conferences; exhibitions and events; restaurants and cafes, amusement parks and entertainment centers; swimming pools and water parks; theatres and cinemas .A rapid antigen test must be conducted 24 hours prior to entering those indoor places.It is a must to adhere to the requirements set by the Ministry of Public Health for holding any conference, exhibition or event. All employees in both government and private sectors must continue to carry out their work from the office.As per the decision, employees and workers who have not received or completed doses of the COVID-19 vaccine are required to conduct a rapid antigen test approved by the Ministry of Public Health on a weekly basis.All citizens, residents and visitors are required to wear masks in all indoor public places. However, they are not obligated to wear masks in open public places unless they are within the public activities organised in markets, exhibitions and during events.All workers in establishments, whose nature of work requires being in open spaces and communicating with customers, must wear masks during their work period.All citizens, residents and visitors are required to activate the Ehteraz application on smartphones when leaving the house for any reason.Weddings are permitted after taking into account the restrictions imposed on the entry of people who did not complete or did not receive doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. Compliance with the health requirements, procedures, precautionary measures and controls determined by the Ministry of Public Health shall be taken into consideration.The Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Public Health, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, and other government agencies - each within its jurisdiction - take the necessary measures in this regard, to ensure compliance with health requirements, procedures, precautionary measures and established controls.The Cabinet then approved a draft law regulating the import, possession, use and sewing of military clothing and its accessories and supplies.It also approved Prime Minister’s draft decision to re-form the National Committee for Food Security.The proposal to add a representative of the Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs to the membership of the Board of Directors of the Regulatory Authority for Charitable Activities also got the Cabinet approval.The Cabinet then approved a draft memorandum of understanding for cooperation in the field of adolescents and youth between the government of Qatar and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).Decisions will come into force from March 12