Qatar's Ministry of Public Health Announces New COVID-19 Travel and Return Policy Updates

Doha, March 15 (QNA) - The Ministry of Public Health has announced a set of updates to its (COVID-19) Travel and Return Policy. The policy updates come into effect from Wednesday 2022 at 7pm Qatar Local Time. In a statement, the Ministry said according the new updates, citizens and residents of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries and citizens and residents of the European Union (immunized or recovered) can use applications of the health data of (COVID-19) approved in their countries, and they will also be excluded from the electronic pre-registration, provided that the rapid antigen test is conducted within (24) hours from the time of arrival in the country at one of the private health centers approved by the Ministry of Public Health. The statement added that taking a PCR test is optional for citizens and residents of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries and citizens and residents of the European Union countries (immunized or recovered), unless they are coming from countries on the red list. The ministry also said that it extended the period of immunity for people who have received the COVID-19 vaccine booster shot and those who recovered from the disease to 12 months, in line with its earlier announcement. The Ministry explained that the aim of these changes is to facilitate the process of travel and return to the State of Qatar, with full commitment to all means that would prevent and protect society from the danger of the (COVID-19) virus, noting, on the other hand, that downloading the "Ehteraz" application is still necessary to enter public places in the State of Qatar. The Ministry stated that more details and information about updates to the travel and return policy to the State of Qatar can be obtained by visiting the website of the Ministry of Public Health (www.moph.gov.qa). (QNA)