Qatar confirms COVID-19 take a look at necessities for World Cup followers

Fans going to the World Cup in Qatar should present a detrimental COVID-19 take a look at once they arrive as a part of the host nation’s guidelines to fight COVID-19, organisers stated Thursday.

All guests aged 18 and over should additionally obtain a government-run cellphone software monitoring folks’s actions and well being standing, referred to as Ehteraz.

“A green Ehteraz (showing the user does not have a confirmed case of COVID-19) is required to enter any public closed indoor spaces,” World Cup organizers stated. Visitors should have the ability to present a detrimental consequence from a PCR take a look at taken within the 48 hours earlier than arriving or from an official fast take a look at taken inside 24 hours. The COVID-19 testing coverage for guests aged six and over is “regardless of the individual’s vaccination status,” the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy stated in a press release.

Vaccination isn’t obligatory for the 1.2 million anticipated guests for the Nov. 20-Dec. 18 match. Rapid antigen exams taken within the earlier 24 hours earlier than touchdown in Qatar will solely be accepted if they’re from official medical facilities and never self-administered. No additional exams are required in Qatar if followers don’t develop signs of COVID-19.

The choices lengthen all through the World Cup public well being insurance policies in place since Sept. 4 for all vacationers arriving in Qatar.

Masks should be worn on public transport, together with the subway system that many followers will use to get to the eight stadiums in and round Doha.

Qatar has recorded practically 450,000 confirmed instances of COVID-19 and 682 deaths from the illness, in accordance with information gathered since 2020 by Johns Hopkins University within the United States. Qatar has a inhabitants estimated to be a minimum of 2.5 million, though solely about 350,000 of these are Qatari residents.

More than 97% of the inhabitants in Qatar has had a minimum of one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, the information states. “Anyone who tests positive for COVID-19 while in Qatar will be required to isolate in accordance with Ministry of Public Health guidelines,” World Cup organizers stated.