October 27 – Qatar is set to drop mandatory pre-arrival Covid-19 tests for thousands of visitors from across the globe attending the World Cup.
The latest relaxation in anti-coronavirus measures will take effect from November 1, 19 days before the start of the tournament.
From that date, Qatar will be closed off to anyone without a ‘Hayya card’ — the mandatory document given to players, officials, staff, media and ticket holders and their guests.
A requirement to wear masks on public transport was scrapped this month, and masks are also not compulsory in the eight World Cup stadiums.
“Visitors (to the World Cup) are no longer required to present a negative COVID-19 PCR or Rapid Antigen Test result before traveling to Qatar,” the health ministry said in a statement.
Qatar’s public health ministry said it was responding to the “number of COVID-19 cases continuing to fall around the world and in Qatar.”
The government also announced the coronavirus tracking app Ehteraz on mobile phones will only be necessary for entry to health facilities – rather than being needed to access all public buildings.
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