(MENAFN- Gulf Times) HE Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Al-Thani chaired the Cabinet's regular meeting held at its seat at the Amiri Diwan on Wednesday.
Following the meeting, HE Minister of Municipality and Environment and Acting Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Abdullah bin Abdulaziz bin Turky Al Subaei issued the following statement:
At the outset of the meeting, the cabinet was briefed by HE Minister of Public Health on the latest developments in efforts to curb Covid-19.
After reviewing the report of the Supreme Committee for Crisis Management regarding the plan to gradually lift the restrictions imposed as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic, and in the interest of the health and safety of all members of society, the cabinet decided the following:
1- Continuing to allow, according to the need of work, a maximum of 80 percent of the total number of employees in the government sector in each business entity to work from the office, with the rest working remotely or upon request depending on the circumstances. The exception are to the military, security and health sectors.
2- Continuing to allow, according to the need of work, a maximum of 80 percent of the total number of employees in the private sector in each business entity to work from the office, with the rest working remotely or upon request depending on the circumstances. The Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI), in co-ordination with the authorities concerned, will determine the necessary activities excluded from this decision.
3- Continuing to allow meetings for employees and workers in the government and private sectors present at their workplace with the attendance of no more than 15 people. Others can only attend the meeting remotely using modern technological means.
4- Continuing to require all employees in the public and private sector to carry out a rapid antigen test that is accredited by the Ministry of Public Health on a weekly basis. This applies to employees who did not receive or complete both doses of their Covid-19 vaccines. Those who did take both doses or recovered from the disease are exempt from taking the rapid antigen test.
5- All citizens and residents must continue to wear masks when leaving the house for any reason, unless the person is present by himself while driving the vehicle or with his family.
6- All citizens and residents must continue to activate their EHTERAZ app on their smartphones when leaving the house for any reason.
7- Mosques shall continue opening for daily and Friday prayers, but children under seven are not allowed in. Toilets and ablution facilities must remain closed. The Ministry of Public Health and the Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs will determine the other precautionary measures.
8- Continue to allow presence in homes and councils according to the following:
A- Allowing a maximum of 15 people who have completed doses of Covid-19 vaccine or a maximum of 5 people if all or any of them did not complete or did not receive doses of Covid-19 vaccine in closed places in homes and majlis.
B- Allowing a maximum of 30 people who have completed doses of Covid-19 vaccine or a maximum of 10 people who have completed doses of Covid-19 vaccine with those who have not completed or did not receive doses of Covid-19 vaccine in outdoor areas of homes or majlis.
9- Continuing to allow wedding parties to be held in wedding halls in hotels and independent wedding halls only, provided that the number of attendees does not exceed 80 people, while allowing the presence of 10 people in attendance who did not complete or did not receive doses of the Covid-19 vaccine.
10- Continuing to allow gatherings or sitting in public parks, beaches and the corniche for a maximum of 15 people or family members residing in the same house, individual sports such as walking, running and cycling are allowed, allowing the opening of playgrounds and exercise equipment in those places, and continuing to allow the opening of private beaches at a maximum capacity of 50%.
11- No car is allowed to have more than four passengers including the driver, with the exception of family members residing in the same house when leaving and moving in vehicles.
12- Buses must continue to operate at half their capacity, while taking the precautionary measures.
13- Continuing the operation of metro services and public transport services at a maximum capacity of 50 percent throughout the week, while closing the smoking areas and banning eating and drinking inside these services.
14- Driving schools shall continue to operate at a maximum capacity of 50 percent. All workers in the schools must have completed their Covid-19 vaccination.
15- Continuing to allow the opening of theaters and cinemas and the provision of their services not exceeding 30 percent of the capacity, provided that 75 percent of the customers who have completed doses of Covid-19 vaccine, allowing children to enter and counting them among the 25 percent allowed for those who did not complete or did not receive doses of the Covid-19 vaccine.
16- Educational centers and private training centers can continue to provide their services at a maximum capacity of 50 percent, provided that 75 percent of clients have completed doses of the Covid-19 vaccine and that all the instructors working at these centers have taken both doses of the Covid-19 vaccine.
17- Nurseries to remain open and providing their services at a maximum capacity of 50 percent, provided all workers take both doses of the Covid-19 vaccine.
18- Museums and public libraries to continue operating at a maximum capacity of 75 percent.
19- Centers for people with special needs to continue operations provided a maximum of five people are present per session, and that all workers have taken both doses of the Covid-19 vaccine.
20- Continuation of professional sports training both indoors and outdoors, permitting preparatory training for local and international tournaments approved by the Ministry of Public Health, and allowing the training of amateurs with a maximum of 30 people outdoors who have completed both doses of the Covid-19 vaccine, and a maximum of 15 people indoors, provided they also take the two doses of the Covid-19 vaccine, with no public attendance.
21- Continuing to allow the hosting of local and international sporting events after obtaining the approval of the Ministry of Public Health, with the presence of fans not surpassing the 50 percent capacity of the open-air venue, provided that among that 75 percent have completed both doses of the Covid-19 vaccine and obligating those who did not complete or did not receive doses of the Covid-19 vaccine to conduct a rapid antigen testing for Covid-19 approved by the Ministry of Public Health within 24 hours before the event, while allowing the presence of no more than 30 percent of the capacity of the public in closed places, provided that they have completed doses of the Covid-19 vaccine.
22- Continuing to allow the organization of conferences, exhibitions and events with a capacity not exceeding 30 percent, after obtaining the approval of the Ministry of Public Health.
23- Continuing to allow malls to operate at a maximum capacity of 50 percent, with children allowed in. Allowing the opening of food courts with a maximum capacity of 30 percent, and allowing all prayers areas to open, but keeping changing rooms closed.
24- Continuing to allow restaurants and cafes to provide food and beverage on the following conditions:
A- A maximum capacity of 50 percent for restaurants and cafes that have the Clean Qatar certificate, and a maximum capacity of 30 percent for restaurants and cafes that meet the conditions determined by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry in open air areas.
B- A maximum capacity of 50 percent for restaurants and cafes that have the Clean Qatar certificate, and a capacity that does not exceed 15 percent for restaurants and cafes that meet the conditions determined by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry indoors, provided that all customers must have completed doses of the Covid-19 vaccine, children are allowed in only with their families.
25- Continuing to allow the rental of boats and tourist yachts, provided that all workers in those boats and yachts have completed doses of the Covid-19 vaccine, and that the number of passengers on those boats and yachts does not exceed 50 percent of its capacity and a maximum of 20 people who have completed doses of the Covid-19 vaccine, while allowing the presence of 3 within the mentioned number who did not complete or did not receive doses of the Covid-19 vaccine. The owners of personal boats and yachts, if used, are obligated to adhere to the percentage, number and controls mentioned.
26- The continuation of the operation of Souks throughout the week, with a maximum capacity of 50 percent. Children are allowed in.
27- Continuing the operation of wholesale markets with a maximum capacity of 50 percent. Children are allowed in.
28- Continuing to allow beauty Salons and barbershops to operate at a maximum capacity of 50 percent, provided that all workers in these facilities and clients have completed taking both doses of the Covid-19 vaccine. Only one child at a time is allowed to be present inside these establishments.
29- Continuing to allow amusement parks and all entertainment centers to be opened according to the following conditions:
A- At a maximum capacity of 50 percent for open air amusement parks and entertainment centers.
B- At a maximum capacity of 30 percent for indoor amusement parks and entertainment centers, provided that 75 percent of the customers must have completed doses of the (Covid-19) vaccine. Children are allowed in and must be counted among the 25 percent allowed for those who did not complete or did not receive doses of the (Covid-19) vaccine.
30- Continuing to allow health clubs, gyms, massage services, sauna and steam rooms, jacuzzi services, and Moroccan and Turkish baths at a maximum capacity of 50 percent, provided that all workers in these facilities and customers have completed both doses of the Covid-19 vaccine.
31- Continuing to allow the opening of swimming pools and water parks according to the following:
A- At a maximum capacity of 50 percent for outdoor pools and waterparks.
B- At a capacity not exceeding 30 percent for indoor pools and waterparks, only customers who have completed doses of the Covid-19 vaccine are allowed to enter. From the 30 percent, 75 percent of the customers must have completed doses of the (Covid-19), with children allowed in and counted among the remaining 25 percent that do not receive the Covid-19 vaccine.
32- Continuing to allow medical services to be provided in private health care facilities with the full capacity of these facilities, provided that all workers in those facilities have completed both doses of the (Covid-19) vaccine.
33- Continuing to allow cleaning and hospitality companies to provide their services through their employees who have completed doses of the (Covid-19) vaccine, whether in one or more houses, and allowing cleaning and hospitality services to be provided to the facilities contracting with it during working hours, with a capacity not exceeding (80%), through its employees who have completed doses of the (Covid-19) vaccine.
Second: Compliance with the health requirements, procedures, precautionary measures and controls determined by the Ministry of Public Health shall be taken into consideration.
Third: The Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Public Health, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, and other government agencies - each within its jurisdiction - shall take the necessary measures in this regard, to ensure compliance with the health requirements and prescribed precautionary measures.
Fourth: These decisions shall be effective as of Friday, July 9 of 2021 until further notice.
The Cabinet was briefed on the new travel and return policies to the State of Qatar, which will be announced by the competent authorities.
After that, the Cabinet considered the topics on the agenda as follows:
First, taking the necessary measures to issue the following draft laws, after the cabinet review the recommendations of the Shura Council in their regard:
1- Draft law on the organization of parking lots.
2- A draft law amending some provisions of Qatar Financial Center Law issues by Law No.7 of 2005.
3- A draft law amending some provisions of Law No.34 of 2005 regarding free zones.
Second, an approval of a draft cabinet decision to establish an artificial intelligence committee, where the committee will be established by the Ministry of Transport and Communications called the Artificial Intelligence Committee, which will specialize in a number of matters, including; establishing mechanisms for the implementation of Qatars strategy for artificial intelligence, following up on that in coordination with the ministries and concerned authorities in the country, and supervising programs and initiatives related to artificial intelligence launched by the ministries and concerned authorities in the country, along with ensuring its access to the sectors, its completion and review in coordination with those ministries and authorities, and the development of recommendations for plans and programs for preparing human cadres in the field of artificial intelligence applications, in coordination with the concerned authorities in the country, and proposing activities and events to support emerging companies in the field of artificial intelligence and scientific research in this field.
Third, an approval of a draft decision of the Minister of Finance regarding determining the procedures and conditions for appointing a tax deputy and assigned obligations.
Fourth, the cabinet reviewed the following two issues and reached appropriate decisions:
1- The results of the extraordinary meeting of the GCC Health Ministers Committee (May 2021, via video conference technology).
2- Results of the meeting no. 23 of GCC ministers responsible for environmental affairs (June 2021, via video conference technology). (QNA)
Last updated: July 07 2021 05:53 PM
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