Saturday 20 / April / 2024
Muscat: Qatar has decided to allow 80 per cent of employees in the government sector in each business entity to resume work from their office as of June 18, 2021.
A statement issued online by the Qatar New Agency (QNA), said: “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 Justice and Acting Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Dr. Issa bin Saad Al Jafali Al Nuaimi 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 examining the report of Supreme Committee for Crisis Management, and to ensure the safety of all members of the society, the cabinet decided the following:
1- Allowing, according to the need of work, a maximum of 80 per cent 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 exceptions are to the military, security and health sectors.
2- 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, who must have completed both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. Others who haven’t can only attend the meeting remotely using modern technological means.
3- All employees in the public and private sector must carry out a rapid antigen test that is accredited by the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH), on a weekly basis. This applies to employees who did not receive or continue all the doses of their COVID-19 vaccines. Those who did take both doses, recovered from the disease, or those whose health condition is not allowed based on a medical report accredited by MoPH, are exempt from taking the rapid antigen test.
4- 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.
5- All citizens and residents must continue to activate their ‘EHTERAZ’ app on their smartphones when leaving the house for any reason.
6- Mosques shall continue opening for daily and Friday prayers, but children under seven are not allowed inside. 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.
7- Allowing a maximum of 10 people who have completed doses of the COVID-19 vaccine to be in closed places in homes, or a maximum of five people if one of them did not complete both vaccine doses. A maximum of 20 people who have completed both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, or 10 people who have not completed or did not receive doses of the COVID-19 vaccine in outdoor areas of homes.
8- Allowing weddings at independent wedding halls and wedding halls in hotels with a maximum capacity of 40 people, provided at least 75 per cent of the attendees have completed both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.
9- Allowing gatherings or sitting in public parks, beaches, and the corniche for a maximum of 10 people or family members residing in the same house, and individual sports such as walking, running and cycling are allowed, while continuing to close playgrounds and sports equipment in those places, and allowing the opening of private beaches not exceeding 40 percent of its capacity.
10- 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.
11- Buses must continue to operate at half their capacity, while taking the precautionary measures.
12- Permitting the operation of metro services and public transport services at a maximum capacity of 30 per cent throughout the week, while closing the smoking areas and banning eating and drinking inside these services.
13- Driving schools shall continue to operate at a maximum capacity of 30 percent. All workers in the schools must have completed their COVID-19 vaccination.
14- Cinemas and theatres can operate at a maximum capacity of 30 percent, provided at least 75 per cent of the attendees have taken the two doses of the COVID-19 vaccines. Children under 12 are not allowed inside.
QNA added that these decisions will be effective from Friday June 18, 2021, until further notice.
