Doha: Travellers arriving in Qatar from abroad will no longer be required to undergo hotel quarantine, except those who test positive for COVID-19 and are obligated to undergo isolation and quarantine in accordance with the procedures followed in the country, the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) announced in its policy update on Wednesday.
The new regulation comes into effect from 6 p.m. local time on Sunday, September 4, the MoPH said.
According to the new update, regardless of the individual’s vaccination status, the pre-arrival and post-arrival COVID-19 testing measures are still required for travellers coming into Qatar.
The update also include ending the current classification lists (Red List) in use in the country.
Citizens and residents must undergo a rapid antigen test (RAT) within a period of 24 hours upon arrival in Qatar at a Primary Health Care Corporation health center or a Ministry of Public Health-approved private medical center.
Visitors must bring a Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test certificate with a negative result received within 48 hours of the scheduled flight to Qatar or a rapid antigen test (RAT) with a negative result received within 24 hours of the scheduled flight to Qatar.
The updates have been made to facilitate the process of travel and return to Qatar while fully adhering to all measures that will prevent and protect the community from the threat of COVID-19. It is also based on the latest COVID-19 indicators in the country and internationally.
MoPH noted that Qatar’s Travel and Return Policy has been a key measure in the nation’s COVID-19 strategy and that enforcing a strict policy for travelers entering Qatar has played a significant role in the country’s successful COVID-19 strategy.
Source: The Peninsula