Doha
Up to 35 vaccinated persons or 10 unvaccinated or mixed groups can gather in open spaces at homes and majlis as Qatar's Cabinet modified the third phase of lifting COVID-19 restrictions.
While most of the phase 3 measures continue unchanged, the modifications see capacity increases in several areas and children of all ages being allowed in mosques.
The modifications were approved at the regular weekly Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister and Minister of Interior HE Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Al Thani on Wednesday.
After reviewing the latest assessment of Qatar’s COVID-19 situation by the Supreme Committee for Crisis Management, the Cabinet decided the following:
Offices
Private and public firms will continue to have up to 80 percent of employees working from offices and the remaining working remotely.
Office meetings can continue to have up to 15 employees participating, but at least 10 of them should be fully vaccinated. Meetings with bigger groups will still have to be held online.
Unvaccinated employees in the public and private sectors should continue to conduct a rapid antigen test for the coronavirus approved by the Ministry of Public Health on a weekly basis. Vaccinated and recovered employees and those with a health status that doesn’t allow taking the anti-coronavirus vaccine are exempted from this.
Gatherings
Gathering at homes and majilis can continue, but only up to 15 fully-vaccinated people or five unvaccinated/mixed groups can gather indoors.
Outdoor home gathering is permitted for up to 35 vaccinated people or 10 unvaccinated/mixed groups. The number was previously 30.
Up to 20 people or family members residing in the same house can now gather at parks, beaches, and the Corniche. The figure was previously 15. Private beaches will continue to operate at 50 percent capacity.
Travel
No more than four people — including the driver — can travel together in a vehicle unless the occupants are of the same family.
Buses and vans cannot carry more passengers beyond half their seating capacities.
While people are required to wear masks when they go out — except for when they are driving with family or alone — the COVID-19 contact-tracing app Ehteraz is still a must for people stepping out of their homes.
Transport
Metro and public transport services will continue to operate at 50 percent capacity throughout the week. However, passengers are not allowed to eat or drink on the train or bus. Smoking areas in stations will continue to remain closed.
Mosques
Children are now allowed into mosques, which will continue to hold daily prayers as well as the Juma on Friday. Toilets and ablution facilities, however, will coninue to remain closed.
Weddings
Weddings can continue to be held at independent facilities and wedding halls in hotels and the maximum capacity has been retained at 80 people. Unvaccinated people in the wedding party should not be more than 10.
Theatres
Theatres can cinemas can continue to operate at 30 percent capacity but the management should ensure that at least 75 percent of the customers are vaccinated. Children are allowed in and must be counted among the unvaccinated, whose number shouldn’t be above 25 percent of the capacity.
Educational institutions, museums
Private educational institutions, training centres and nurseries can continue in-person classes at 50 percent capacity, provided that all the workers and at least 75 percent of the adult clients are fully vaccinated.
Educational sessions in centres designated for people with special needs will continue, provided that each session has no more than five individuals; trainers must be fully vaccinated.
Public museums and libraries can continue to operate at 75 percent capacity.
Driving schools can continue to operate at 50 percent capacity, provided all workers are fully vaccinated.
Sports
Professional sports training, whether in closed or open spaces, preparatory training for local and international tournaments approved by the Ministry of Public Health, can continue.
Training of amateurs shouldn’t involve more than 35 (previously 30) vaccinated people in open space and 15 vaccinated people in enclosed space. All trainees must be vaccinated and no spectators are allowed.
Local and international sporting events can be held after obtaining the approval of the Ministry of Public Health, with spectators allowed in up to 50 percent of capacity in open-air venues and 30 percent behind closed doors.
Up to 75 percent of the spectators must be vaccinated. Unvaccinated people wishing to watch the matches should obtain a negative rapid antigen test result, from a facility approved by the Ministry of Public Health. The test must be done 24 hours before the start of the event.
Conferences
Conferences, exhibitions and similar events can draw in crowd up to 50 percent of the venue capacity (previously 30 percent), after obtaining the approval of the Ministry of Public Health.
Malls
Changing rooms in malls, the operating capacity of which has been retained at 50 percent, are now allowed to open. The rest of the requirements are the same — common food courts inside malls can operate at 30 percent capacity and prayer areas and toilets inside malls can remain open.
Souks and wholesale markets can continue working throughout the week with a maximum capacity of 50 percent. Children are allowed in.
Wholesale markets can continue working throughout the week with a maximum capacity of 50 percent. Children are allowed to enter.
Restaurants
Restaurants and cafes with a “Clean Qatar” certificate can provide dine-in services at 50 percent capacity indoors and 50 percent capacity outdoors.
Restaurants and cafes that meet the conditions determined by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry can now provide dine-in services at 20 percent capacity indoors and 30 percent outdoors.
Boats
Private boats, boat rentals, and tourist boats can have riders up to 50 percent of their capacities or up to 25 (previously 25) vaccinated people, whichever is smaller. Unvaccinated people among the boat riders shouldn't be more than three. Employees must be vaccinated.
Salons and gyms
Beauty salons and barbershops can operate at a maximum capacity of 50 percent, provided that all workers and clients are fully vaccinated. No more than one child at a time is allowed to be present inside these establishments.
Health clubs, gyms, massage services, saunas, steam and jacuzzi services, and Moroccan and Turkish baths can continue operations to 50 percent capacity, provided that all workers in these facilities and customers have completed both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.
Amusement parks and pools
Amusement parks and all entertainment centres can continue operations at 50 percent capacity for open air features and at 30 percent capacity for indoor facilities. At least 75 percent of the customers need to be fully vaccinated. Children are allowed in and must be counted among the unvaccinated, whose number shouldn’t be above 25 percent of the centre’s capacity.
Swimming pools and water parks can continue operations at 50 percent capacity outdoors and at 30 percent capacity indoors. Up to 75 percent of indoor pool users should be fully-vaccinated people. Children are allowed in but should be counted among the unvaccinated, whose number shouldn't be more than 25 percent of the pool capacity.
Healthcare
Private healthcare services can continue services at 100 percent capacity, provided that all workers are fully vaccinated.
Cleaning and hospitality companies can provide services if their staff are fully vaccinated.
