The Prime Minister and Minister of Interior HE Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Al Thani chaired the Cabinet meeting held by the Council this Wednesday, 26 January.
Following the updates provided by the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) and based on the report from the Supreme Committee for Crisis Management, the Council has decided to implement the following in the interest of the health and safety of all members of society. The said guidelines will come into effect starting on Saturday, 29 January.
These are the highlights of the updated guidelines:
All employees and government workers who are unvaccinated or have not yet completed their vaccine doses shall be required to have a Rapid Antigen Test (approved by the MoPH) on a weekly basis. Vaccinated employees and those who have recovered from the disease are exempted.
Mosques will remain open for daily and Friday prayers and children will be allowed to enter, following precautionary measures set by MoPH and the Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs. Ablution and toilet facilities will remain open.
No more than four people will be allowed in a vehicle, including the driver, with the exception of family members residing in the same house.
Public transportation, including buses and the Doha Metro, shall operate at 75% capacity throughout the week, following precautionary measures. Designated smoking areas will remain closed. Food and drinks are still not allowed.
Restaurants and cafes with the ‘Clean Qatar’ certificate shall be allowed to operate on full capacity; those who meet the conditions set by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry shall be allowed to operate on 50% capacity in open spaces. Children below 12 years old will be allowed to enter if accompanied by family members. All workers in these establishments should be fully vaccinated.
Everyone is still required to wear masks in all public places, indoor and outdoor, with the exception of people who practice sports in open spaces. All citizens, residents and visitors are required to activate their EHTERAZ application on smartphones when leaving the house for any reason.
A more detailed update on guidelines for schools is available here.
Read also: Qatar Updates List of Countries Based on COVID-19 Risk Effective 30 January
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