List of low-risk countries; FAQs on quarantine rules upon arrival in Qatar

As part of the gradual lifting of restrictions imposed in Qatar as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, and based on Qatar’s travel policy announced previously, the travel policies effective Saturday, August 1 has been reviewed based on public health indicators in Qatar and around the world.

The list of low-risk countries

The list will be reviewed every two weeks, according to a Government Communications Office. As of now, the list includes 40 countries.

Europe:

Malta, Finland, Hungary, Estonia, Norway, Lithuania, Latvia, Cyprus, Ireland, Greece, Italy, Slovakia, Denmark, the Netherlands, Germany, Poland, France, Slovenia, Belgium, United Kingdom, Czech Republic, Austria, Switzerland, Iceland, Spain, Croatia, Turkey, and Andorra

Asia:

Brunei Darussalam, China, Japan, Malaysia, South Korea, Thailand, Vietnam

Oceania:

Australia and New Zealand

Africa:

Algeria and Morocco

Americas:

Canada

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Which countries can I travel to and undergo home quarantine on return?

Low-risk countries mentioned above.

How long must I undergo home quarantine on my return from a low-risk country?

You must undergo at least a 7-day period of home quarantine following your return to Qatar.

Will I be tested during my period of home quarantine?

Yes. Upon your return to Doha’s Hamad International Airport from low-risk countries where MOPH approved testing centers are not in place (currently only Turkey), you will be tested at the airport and then required to undergo home quarantine for one week (7 days). You will then be tested on day 6 of your home quarantine by arranging a drive through an appointment in one of the designated primary health centers. If the test is negative, you will be released from home quarantine on day 7. If your test result is positive, you will be placed under appropriate isolation.

Are there any requirements for undertaking home quarantine?

Yes, there are 10 rules of home quarantine that you must adhere to:

- You must have suitable housing conditions with the availability of your own room and linked bathroom when you confine yourself to your own room and not mix with the rest of the family

- You must sign an undertaking (including all the family members and household helpers living in the same house) to abide by the rules of home-based quarantine             

- You must watch a short video on board the flight before arrival and review the pamphlet on the home quarantine.     

- You must apply preventive measures at home to protect others              

- You must have a swab taken on day 6 after your arrival back to Doha at a designated drive through primary healthcare center

- You must answer the phone calls from the public health team during your home quarantine.        

- You must agree to receive a visit from the public health team every 2 to 3 days.              

- You must inform the public health team if you develop any symptoms (fever, cough, body aches, change in taste or smell) 

- You must download the Ehteraz App.

- You should not receive visitors while under home quarantine.  

Will my Ehteraz status change when I return from travel?

Yes. Upon arrival back to Doha’s Hamad International Airport, your Ehteraz status will change to Yellow (Quarantine). If your 6-day test result is negative, your Ehteraz status would change to green on day 7 if you returned from low-risk countries. However, if this test result is positive, your Ehteraz status will change to red. If you returned from other countries, then your health status on Ehteraz will remain yellow (Quarantine) on day 7, and you should continue the remaining 7 days home quarantined (total 14 days).

Do I have to have a COVID-19 test at Hamad International Airport if I have traveled to Turkey and had a test in one of the MOPH approved centers?

No. If you have been tested at an approved MOPH testing center, you will not require a test on arrival at Hamad International Airport. You should present your COVID-19 free certificate to authorities at Hamad International Airport and begin your 7-day period of home quarantine. You will then be tested for COVID-19 on day 6 of your home quarantine by arranging a drive through an appointment in one of the designated primary health centers. If the test is negative, you will be released from home quarantine on day 7. If your test result is positive, the existing protocol for positive cases will be applied.

Is there any documentation that I must complete on my return to Qatar?

Yes. Each traveler must complete and sign a health checklist for returning travelers form/card that will be distributed among passengers by cabin crew onboard. On arrival back to Doha’s Hamad International Airport, the form/card is submitted to the Medical officer. The form/card includes questions about the individual’s medical history and the rules of home quarantine.

I have already booked my travel and hotel quarantine stay – will I get a refund for the hotel quarantine?

If you are traveling to an approved low-risk country and have already booked and paid for a hotel quarantine stay on your return to Qatar, you will be able to get a full refund for the hotel quarantine as you will be eligible for home quarantine. Contact Discover Qatar to request your refund.

 Can I undergo home quarantine if I travel to a country that is not on the official low-risk list?

No. If you travel to a country that is not on the low risk approved list, you will be required to undergo a one-week period of hotel quarantine. You should book a hotel quarantine stay for one week from the listed hotels on the Discover Qatar website. You will be tested on day 6 of your hotel, quarantine. If the test is negative and you are asymptomatic (displaying no symptoms), you will be able to leave the hotel on day 7 to begin a further period of home quarantine for 7 days (14 days total quarantine). If, after 14 days, you are still asymptomatic, your Ehteraz status will turn green.

Are there any exemptions from hotel quarantine for people returning from countries, not on the low-risk list?

Yes. The following vulnerable groups returning from travel (Qatari and non-Qatari) and their immediate family members living in the same household, including their domestic helpers returning with them, are eligible for home quarantine and not hotel quarantine:

- Aged 55 years old and above.

- Organ transplant recipients.

- Patients with hypertension who are on treatment.

- Bone marrow transplant recipients.

- Patients with conditions that require immune-suppressive treatment.

- Patients with heart failure or coronary artery disease.

- Patients with moderate to severe asthma.

- Cancer patients with metastasis and those on treatment (Chemotherapy or Radiotherapy).

- Pregnant females (any trimester).

- Nursing mothers with children aged 0-5 years.

- Patients with end-stage renal failure (ESRD) or on dialysis.

- Patients with CLD (Chronic Liver Disease) and decompensation.

- Patients with lower-limb amputations.

- People with disabilities where they are dependent on others for their activities of daily living.

- Children with disabilities and their mothers.

- Patients with epilepsy and on treatment.

- Patients with diabetic foot infections.

- People with deceased first-degree relatives in the last 10 days.

- People with mental health problems on antipsychotic medications and whose condition is aggravated by staying in closed spaces

- Diabetic patients on treatment (any HbA1C level).

For more information regarding the process of issuing return permits to Qatar, you can contact the Government Contact Centre via the hotline (109).

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Source: MOPH