Doha: Qatar Cabinet announced that the phase 3 of the gradual lifting of Covid-19 restrictions will go into effect from Friday, July 9, 2021.
Prime Minister and Minister of Interior H E Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Al Thani presided over the Cabinet’s regular meeting held at its seat at the Amiri Diwan today.
The cabinet decided to permit entry for kids into cinemas, increase the number of people allowed in weddings and also increased the percentage of people allowed in malls and restaurants.
Precautionary Measures and Gatherings
- Continue with mask-wearing requirement when leaving home, unless alone or with family in a vehicle.
- Continue with 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.
Transport
- Public transport and Metro to increase to 50% capacity while buses to operate at 30% capacity
- Driving schools to increase to 50% 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 allowed to operate at 50% capacity, and boat rentals and tourist boats at 30% capacity. This includes up to 20 people, of which up to 3 can be unvaccinated.
Business and Leisure
Continued operation of workplaces at 80% capacity, with essential meetings for up to 15 people.
Continuing with rapid antigen test for Covid-19 on a weekly basis, for employees and workers who did not receive or complete doses of the Covid-19 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% capacity, with no age restrictions.
Cinemas and theatres to continue at 30% capacity. At least 75% of customers must be vaccinated. Allowing the entry of children and counting them as part of 25%, who did not complete or did not receive doses of the Covid-19 vaccine.
Increase to 80% capacity for vaccinated hospitality and cleaning employees at workplaces during working hours.
Continued hosting of select exhibitions, conferences, and fairs at 30% capacity, following a risk assessment and approval from MOPH.
Shopping centres to continue at 50% capacity, including food courts operating at 30% capacity, with no age restrictions.
Allowing restaurants and cafes to serve food and beverages according to the following:
A- A capacity not exceeding 50% for restaurants and cafes that have obtained the "Clean Qatar" certificate, and capacity not exceeding 30% for restaurants and cafes that meet the conditions determined by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, in open spaces.
B - A capacity not exceeding 50% for restaurants and cafes that have a "Clean Qatar" certificate, and a capacity not exceeding 15% 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% 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 centres to increase to 50% capacity outdoors and 30% capacity indoors. 75% of customers must be vaccinated. Children are allowed to enter and will counted among the 25%, who did not complete or did not receive doses of the vaccine.
Education, Health and Sport
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 to allow 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 Ministry of Public Health, and allowing the presence of no more than 50% of the capacity in open spaces, provided that 75% 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 Ministry of Public Health within 24 hours before the event. 30% capacity in closed places, provided they are vaccinated.
Gyms, training clubs, and spas to increase to 50% capacity. Employees and customers must be vaccinated.
Blended learning to increase to 50% capacity.
Private educational and training centres to increase to 50% capacity. Trainers must be vaccinated and 75 % clients should be vaccinated.
Training allowed for MOPH-approved local and international tournaments. Fans allowed outdoors at 50% capacity and indoors at 30% capacity, of which at least 75% must be vaccinated.
Pools and water parks to increase to 50% capacity outdoors and 30% indoors. 75% of customers must be vaccinated. Children allowed to enter and will be counted among the 25% of who did not complete or did not receive vaccine.