On 7th April 2021, Qatar’s Cabinet has decided to reimpose further measures due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This article summarises the COVID restrictions that are currently in place.
The latest decisions include reducing employees in public and private companies to 50 per cent, closing museums, libraries, nurseries, not allowing gatherings in public parks and corniche, stopping metro services on weekends etc.
The decisions will go into effect starting Friday 9th April, 2021, until further notice.
Latest Updated on COVID Restrictions in Qatar
According to Qatar News Agency, after reviewing the report of the Supreme Committee for Crisis Management regarding the plan to re-impose restrictions due to the Corona pandemic, and for the sake of health and the safety of all members of society, Cabinet decided the following restrictions.
We have summarised the text to be table format for easy reference.
Workplace
Attendance: Government Sector
50 per cent employees (rest of the employees to work remotely from their homes or on request) with the exception of the military, security and health sectors.
Attendance: Private Sector
50 per cent employees (rest of the employees to work remotely from their homes or on request). Ministry of Trade and Industry, in coordination with the concerned authorities, to determine the necessary activities that are excluded from this decision.
Meetings: Government Sector
All meetings to be online; In case this is not possible, and in cases of necessity, maximum 5 persons per meeting (adhere to procedures and precautionary measures).
Meetings: Private Sector
All meetings to be online; In case this is not possible, and in cases of necessity, maximum 5 persons per meeting (adhere to procedures and precautionary measures).
While Leaving Home
Wearing masks when leaving the house
Compulsory for all (except when driving alone)
Activating Ehteraz app when leaving the house
Compulsory for all
Mosques
Mosques (daily prayers and Friday prayers)
Open for daily prayers; Tarawih prayers to be performed at homes; Children under 12 years old are not allowed to enter
Toilets and ablution facilities at Mosques
Closed
Social Gatherings
Social gatherings at closed places (Homes, Majlis etc.)
Not allowed
Social gatherings at open places
Maximum of 5 people who have completed COVID-19 vaccination
Winter camps
Only family members who live in the same house
Weddings (in closed or open space)
Not allowed
13 APRIL 2021 UPDATE: The Ministry has clarified the rules for gathering as below:
No indoor gatherings are permitted apart from families living in the same house.
An individual, or family (including children) from the same household, can go to parks, beaches and public spaces and perform activities including running, walking, swimming and cycling, but they cannot sit down together, have picnics or gather with others.
For outdoor gatherings, these are only permitted within the outdoor home environment (gardens and outdoor home areas) for the following: – Gatherings of family members living in the same household – Gatherings of up to five fully vaccinated individuals (14 days after second dose)
Rental services of boats, tourist yachts and pleasure boats
Not allowed (except for family members residing in the same house); Maximum 5 from non-family members, provided that they have completed COVID-19 vaccination.
Private Health care
Private health care facilities
Services stopped (except for emergency cases – with effect from 2nd April 2021). Some services can be continued through modern means of communication.
The Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Public Health, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, and other governmental bodies are in charge of taking the necessary measures to ensure adherence to the precautionary measures, all within their powers and jurisdiction.
The Cabinet noted the continuation of the current travel and return policy to the State of Qatar.
