Quarantine policies for entering Qatar take effect: GCO

Doha: The Government Communications Office (GCO) yesterday announced that new quarantine policies for those entering Qatar have come into effect.

For arrival to Qatar from low-risk countries, the GCO said on its Twitter account that these people will need to take a COVID-19 test upon arrival to the airport, unless they have obtained a COVID-19-free certificate from an accredited COVID-19 testing centre abroad less than 48 hours before travel.

The travellers will then sign a formal pledge to adhere to quarantine at home for a week noting that the traveller’s status on the Ehtraz application will be yellow.

After a week, arrivals will need to go to a dedicated health centre for COVID-19 test. If the result is positive, the traveller will be transferred to isolation facilities or if the result is negative, the quarantine period will end and the traveller’s status on the Ehtraz application will change to green.

For arrivals to Qatar from countries not listed as the low-risk but with accredited COVID-19 testing facilities, the GCO said that such people will need to obtain a COVID-19-free certificate from an accredited COVID-19 testing centre no more than 48 hours before travel.

The travellers will then sign a formal pledge to adhere to the quarantine at home for a week noting that the traveller’s status on the Ehtraz application will be yellow. After a week of self-quarantine, arrivals will need to go to a dedicated health centre for a COVID-19 test.

If the result is positive, the traveller will be transferred to isolation facilities or if the result is negative, the quarantine period will end and the traveller’s status on the Ehtraz application will change to green.

For the arrivals to Qatar from countries not listed as the low-risk and without accredited COVID-10 testing facilities, the GCO said in tweet that these people are expected to stay in mandatory quarantine in a hotel at their own expense for seven days, booked thorough the ‘Discover Qatar’ website before arriving in Qatar.

These arrivals will be tested for COVID-19 on day 6 at the hotel. If the result is positive, the traveller will be transferred to isolation facilities or if the result is negative, the hotel quarantine period ends and the traveller must enter home quarantine for another week, noting that their status on the Ehtraz application will be yellow and will change to green after a week has passed, the GCO tweeted.

The GCO also shared names of low risk countries which include Brunei, Vietnam, China, Thailand, Malaysia, Malta, Finland, Hungary, South Korea.

Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Japan, Cyprus, Ireland, Italy, Slovakia, Denmark, Netherlands, Germany, Poland, France, Australia, Canada, Slovenia, UK, Czech Republic, Austria, Switzerland, Algeria, Iceland, Spain, Croatia, Andorra, New Zealand, Norway, Greece, Morocco, Belgium and Turkey are also listed as low-risk countries.

The above mentioned low-risk countries are subject to change at the discretion of the Ministry of Public Health, people can visit the website for updates, the tweet further said.

Meanwhile, Discover Qatar, the website through which quarantine packages has to be booked before arriving in Qatar, has launched a new 14-night quarantine packages for domestic staff, company sponsored and other workers in shared motel accommodation.

This is in addition to the hotel quarantine packages, where residents returning to Qatar can choose 7-day packages in 3, 4 or 5 star hotels.

The motel 14-night package is available at Mekaines Motel, which is a budget motel providing comfortable rooms and is located in Alsheehaniya, Mekaines Area on Salwa Road. Rooms feature a shower with hot and cold water, amenities and a kettle. All people on the same booking must be on the same arrival flight, and must book the same room type.

From August 1, those with a sponsored Work Permit/Employment Visa may also return to Qatar. An employer who wants to make a group booking for 10 or more individuals can contact Discover Qatar after receiving the approval for staff to return.

For individual booking in dormitory accommodation, after obtaining approval to enter Qatar by applying through the Qatar Portal, one can book 14 nights’ quarantine in this shared motel accommodation.

Cost of accommodation starts from QR105 per day. This includes 3 meals a day, breakfast, lunch and evening meal, plus one-way coach transport from Hamad International Airport to the accommodation.

The coach will operate throughout the day, and may involve a wait at the airport.

For shared accommodation it will cost QR2160 for 14-night package and QR4302 for single room.

For individual bookings, an additional QAR 700 per person shared room/QAR 1400 per person single room insurance premium will also be taken at the time of booking. This will only be used if the quarantine period is extended for more than 14 nights, for example in case of a positive COVID-19 test. If an extension is not required, the deposit will be refunded in full. The insurance premium can also be retained to cover any damages to the room.

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