Cabinet reimposes more Covid-19 restrictions effective Friday, April 9, 2021

Doha. In a regular Cabinet Meeting held this afternoon through video conference chaired by the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior H E Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Al Thani, after reviewing the report of the Supreme Committee for Crisis Management regarding the plan to reimpose restrictions due to Covid-19 pandemic, and for the safety and health of the society, the Cabinet decided to reimpose further measures due to the Covid-19 pandemic, which will be effective from Friday, April 9, 2021, until further notice, as follows:

1. The number of employees present at the workplace in government agencies to be reduced to 50% of the total number of employees in each entity, while the rest shall work from home, or on request, according to the circumstances, with the exception of the military, security and health sectors.

2. The number of workers present at the workplace in the private sector to be reduced to 50% of the total number of employees in each office, and the rest of the workers to work from home. The Ministry of Trade and Industry, in coordination with the concerned authorities, to determine the necessary activities that are excluded from this decision.

3. All meetings that are held for employees and workers in the government and private sectors shall be remotely using modern technology (e.g. online), unless not possible or is highly necessary, the meeting shall be held with not more than 5 persons, subject to following precautionary measures.

4. All citizens and residents leaving their house for any reason are mandated to wear masks, unless the person is alone while driving the vehicle or with his family.

5. All citizens and residents are mandated to activate the (EHTERAZ) application on smartphones when leaving the house for any reason.

6. Mosques remain open for daily duties and Friday prayers, provided that Tarawih prayers are performed during the blessed month of Ramadan in homes, and children under 12 years old are not allowed to enter, while adhering to the precautionary measures set by the Ministry of Public Health and the Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs, with the continued closure of toilets and ablution facilities.

7. Social gatherings and visits in closed places in homes and majlis are prohibited. However, the gathering of a maximum of 5 people in open places who have completed their Covid-19 vaccine doses, is allowed.

8. Winter camps are allowed for family members residing in the same house only.

9. Weddings indoors or outdoors are not allowed.

10. Gatherings or sitting are not allowed in public parks, beaches and the corniche. Individual sports such as walking, jogging and cycling are allowed, while playgrounds and sports equipment in those places will remain closed.

11. No more than four (4) people including the driver shall be allowed inside a vehicle, except for family members residing in the same house.

12. Bus transportation capacity remains at 50%, while passengers are required to take precautionary measures.

13. The capacity of Doha Metro and other public transport services are reduced to 20 percent on weekdays and will not be available on certain routes. They will not operate on Fridays and Saturdays as well.

14. Driving schools continue to be closed.

15. Cinemas and theaters shall be closed.

16. Private educational and training centers remain to be allowed to provide their services through remote communication programmes only.

17. Nurseries to be closed.

18. Public museums and libraries to be closed.

19. Individual educational sessions remains to be allowed in centers designated for people with special needs, while adhering to special requirements set by the Ministry of Public Health.

20. Sports teams trainings, whether indoors or outdoors, remain prohibited with the exception of preparatory training for local and international tournaments approved by the Ministry of Public Health.

21. Obtaining prior approval from the Ministry of Public Health to organize local and international sporting events.

22. All conferences, exhibitions and events are to be postponed.

23. Capacity of malls remains to not exceed 30%; children under 16 years old are prohibited to enter in malls; prayer rooms and changing rooms in these complexes shall remain closed, with the continued closure of all food courts inside malls and allowing these restaurants to serve delivery and take out only.

24. Restaurants and cafes are prohibited to serve food and drinks in open or closed places and to allow them to offer foods and drinks through take-out and delivery only.

25. Rental services of boats, tourist yachts and pleasure boats remain suspended, with the exception of rental services for family members residing in the same house, or if non-family residing at the same house, not more than 5, provided that they have completed the Covid-19 vaccine doses.

26. The traditional souqs markets continue to operate with a capacity not exceeding 30%, and children under 16 years old are not allowed to enter, with these markets being closed on Friday and Saturday of every week.

27. Wholesale markets remain open with a capacity not exceeding 30%, and children under 16 years old are not allowed to enter.

28. Beauty and hair salons shall be closed.

29. Amusement parks and all entertainment centers continue to be closed.

30. Health clubs and physical training clubs remain closed, while massage services, saunas, steam rooms, Jacuzzi services, and Moroccan and Turkish baths not allowed.

31. Swimming pools and water parks remain closed.

32. Medical services in private health facilities to remain not providing urgent health services, except in emergency cases. These private health services however are allowed to provide some of their medical services through modern means of communication.

33. Cleaning and hospitality companies to stop providing their services during working hours to the establishments contracting with them, however they are allowed with a full capacity outside the working hours of those establishments, and to allow the provision of their services at home by one person only while adhering to the special requirements set by the Ministry of Public Health in coordination with the Ministry trade and Industry.

The Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Public Health, the Ministry of Trade and Industry and other government agencies, each in its own jurisdiction, shall take the necessary measures in this regard, to ensure compliance with health requirements, procedures, and prescribed precautionary measures.