Qatar updates Covid-19 travel and return policy PCR test not required for some

(MENAFN- The Peninsula) The Peninsula online

Doha: The Ministry of Public health announced a new update on the COVID-19 travel and return policy to Qatar, which will come into force on Monday, February 28, at 7 pm Qatar time.

This update comes in conjunction with the noticeable decrease in the number of Covid-19 cases in the country, and the success of vaccination campaigns against Covid-19 in Qatar.

As part of the travel and return policy updates to Qatar, the Ministry of Public Health has changed the lists of country classifications according to the risks of Covid-19 from green, red and exceptional red to the lists as follows: 
A- The usual health and safety procedures for those coming to Qatar.

B - Health and safety procedures for those coming from the countries included in the red list.

As for the examination policy, the time required to conduct a PCR test before arrival has been changed to 48 hours from the time of departure in the countries from which they came.

Citizens and residents immunized against Covid-19 are excluded from this procedure, regardless of the countries from which they come. While citizens and residents (unvaccinated / unvaccinated) must take the PCR test 48 hours before arrival from departure time in case of coming from one of the countries subject to health and safety procedures for those coming from the list of red countries.

The Ministry of Public Health stressed that the policy of travel and return to the State of Qatar is a major criterion in the success of the State of Qatar's strategy to combat Covid-19, by applying many precautionary measures to those coming to Qatar, which effectively contributed to recording the lowest rates of deaths due to the Covid-19 virus in the world.

Fully Vaccinated: Anyone who received any of the COVID-19 vaccine approved/recognized by the Ministry of Public Health within its immunity validity period:

- Valid for nine (9) months from fourteen (14) days after 2nd dose or booster dose vaccination of Pfizer, Moderna, Astra Zenica COVID-19 vaccines.

- Valid for nine (9) months from 2 weeks after the 1st dose of Jansen & Jansen COVID-19 vaccine; or valid for nine (9) months from seven (7) days of receiving the booster dose of Jansen & Jansen COVID-19 vaccine.

- Valid for six (6) months from fourteen (14) days after the 2nd dose or booster dose of conditionally approved COVID-19 vaccines, where a positive Serology on Antibody Test lab result is required and is valid for 30 days from testing; If the traveler is unable to take a Serology Antibody test in the country of origin or if the Antibody test result appear negative, the traveler must undergo relevant quarantine for 5 days; Those who received booster dose using MOPH approved vaccines immune status is extended to nine (9) months from seven (7) days after the booster dose and Serology Antibody test is no longer required.

• Recovered: Anyone who had a medically confirmed COVID-19 infection acquired either locally or overseas is considered to have immune status valid for nine (9) months from the date of the infection. There should be an official and verifiable laboratory test result as evidence of the past infection.

• Unvaccinated / Non-immune: Anyone who does not meet any of the above criteria. 
Travelers who are vaccinated outside Qatar are required to submit the original vaccine certificate and any other supporting documents –in Arabic or English language– as a proof that they have obtained the vaccine and should at least include the following information:

- The name of the traveler must be identical to that on the passport.
- Doses and dates of vaccine given (one dose for Jansen vaccine and two doses for other vaccines).
- Type/name of vaccine.
- The serial number of the vaccine batch and QR code (if available).

MENAFN24022022000063011010ID1103758663