New COVID-19 restrictions in Qatar go into effect today

As Qatar finds itself in the midst of the second COVID-19 wave, the country has decided to implement a series of new restrictions to tackle the crisis and ensure the safety of its citizens and residents.

Based on the Cabinet's decision, effective today, several public services and facilities in Qatar will see capacity limitations while a number of public places will be closed until further notice.

With daily COVID-19 cases rising, Qatar's Ministry of Public Health has urged the public to shoulder the responsibility of fighting the second COVID-19 wave by complying with all recommended preventive and precautionary measures.

From today, the following measures will take effect:

Precautionary measures and gatherings

Mosques will be open for daily prayers and Friday prayers. However, toilets and ablution facilities will continue to remain closed. Worshippers must comply with all preventive and pracuaitonary measures in mosques. Children under 12 years will not be allowed to enter. Tarawih prayers, during the holy month of Ramadan, must be performed in homes.

Social gatherings and visits at homes, majlises are not permitted in indoor areas. In outdoor spaces, a maximum of five people are allowed to gather, only if they have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

No weddings to be held indoors or outdoors.

Wearing a mask (unless alone in a vehicle) as well as activating the Ehteraz app when leaving home remains mandatory.

Only families within the same households are allowed in winter camps.

Business and Leisure

The cpacity in shopping malls must be maintained at up to 30 percent. Children under the age of 16 are not permitted to enter. All prayer rooms, changing rooms, and food courts will remain closed. 

Food is not allowed to be served indoors or outdoors in restaurants and cafes, while delivery and pick-up services will continue.

Souqs and wholsesale markets will remain open with a capacity of up to 30 percent. Souqs will be closed on Fridays and Saturdays. Children under 16 years will not be allowed at the Souqs or wholsesale markets.

All barbershops and beauty salons will be closed.

All gyms, sauna and steam rooms, jacuzzis, massage services and Moroccan and Turkish baths will be closed.

Swimming pools and water parks indoors and outdoors will be closed.

Theme parks and leisure centers will remain shut.

All museums, libraries, cinemas and theatres will be closed.

Only 50 percent of employees to be allowed in public and private sector workplaces. This excludes the military, security and health sectors.

Five-person meeting limit, only when necessary and when technology is not available, to remain in effect in workplaces.

 All exhibitions, conferences and other events will be postponed until further notice.

Cleaning and hospitality services will be provided in homes by one person only. These services are not allowed to operate during contracted establishments' working hours, but can operate fully outside of these hours.

Transportation

Rental and excursion/touristic boats, except for rental services for family members residing in the same household, will continue to be suspended. In case of use of personal boats, owners must ensure that only family members from the same household are onboard, or that a maximum of five people are present, provided they have completed both doses of the Covid-19 vaccine.

The capacity of Doha Metro services and public transport is reduced to no more than 20 percent. These services will not be available on  Fridays and Saturdays.

Qatar's travel and quarantine policy will continue to be in place.

All  driving schools will remain closed until further notice.

Education and Health

Students at all levels of education will continue with the distant learning approach.

Individual educational sessions will be continued only in special needs centers, while following MoPH guidelines.

Distance learning for all students in training centers.

Child care centers and nurseries will be closed.

Medical services on all private health care facilities will remain suspended, except for emergency cases and remote services.

Outdoors and Professional Sports

Gathering or sitting in parks, the Corniche and beaches, will not be permitted.

Individual sports such as walking, running and cycling can be carried out however playgrounds and gym equipment can not be used and will remain closed.

Sports teams are not allowed to train, unless the training is for local and international tournaments following an approval from MoPH.

MoPH approval is mandatory prior to organizing local and international sports events (spectator capacity to be determined by MoPH).

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Source: GCO