Vaccinated people to be exempt from COVID restrictions

Dr Abdullatif Al Khal, the chair of Qatar’s National Health Strategic Group on COVID-19, has said that People who have been vaccinated against COVID-19 will be gradually exempted from several restrictions meant to stem the spread of the coronavirus.

Qatar's Cabinet on Wednesday already has allowed fully-vaccinated people to gather outdoors if the number of individuals are not more than five.

"More exceptions are coming for those who received the vaccine," Dr Khal said.

According to Dr Khal, the vaccines from Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna have proven effective against the South African and British strains of the coronavirus.

Dr Al Khal said, “I know that today’s announcement of new restrictions, just one week before the start of the Holy Month of Ramadan, will be difficult for many people. With these new restrictions in place for at least the next two weeks the start of the Ramadan will be impacted. But as always, as individuals and as a community, we have the will and the power to suppress the spread of the virus like we did the first time.”