As the Omicron version makes its first appearance in the area, Qatar has modified its “Travel and Return Policy.” On Wednesday, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Oman all reported the first instances of the novel coronavirus variety, marking the Gulf region’s first known Omicron infections. The resident bearing the variation hailed from a “North African nation,” as per the neighboring monarchy, and the illness was the Gulf’s first verified instance. As per the local news agency, the infected person and all of his close connections have been quarantined.
The UAE reported its first case of the Omicron variety, as well as the second in the area, a few hours later. As per the state-run WAM news agency, the afflicted person is an African lady who traveled from one African country to another through an Arab country, without stating which countries.
Public health officials have placed her, as well as anyone who comes into contact with her, in isolation, as per the agency. Oman, meanwhile, has recorded its first instance. The new version has been designated as a “variant of concern” by the World Health Organization (WHO), and Qatar’s Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) has recommended anyone eligible for a COVID-19 booster shot to schedule an appointment as soon as possible to assure some protection against the new mutation.
The latest discovery of the new variation has generated alarm throughout the world, with the World Health Organization (WHO) warning of a large number of mutations that might lead to reinfection. Due to its enormous number of changes, health experts have warned that the Omicron version might be the most powerful Covid-19 strain.
However, no infections with the new “deadly” variety have been reported in Qatar, which officials attribute to the Gulf state’s strict travel restrictions and high vaccination rate.
As a result of the new mutations, the Ministry of Health has issued fresh revisions to its travel and immunization policies. Covaxin, created by Bharat Biotech, was added to the list of “Conditionally Approved Covid-19 Vaccines” within the Travel and Return Policy on Thursday. However, a valid serology antibody test is required before landing in Qatar. Two doses of Sinopharm, Sinovac, Sputnik V, and Covaxin have conditionally authorized vaccinations, as per the government.
The Exceptional Red List now includes 16 nations, including South Africa, where the new variation was initially discovered by health professionals investigating mutations identified in Europe. The nations on the list have been separated into two groups as per the new standards. Vaccinated and unvaccinated GCC people arriving in the country from Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe would be quarantined in hotels for seven days. Qataris, on the other hand, will be able to opt for home quarantine instead. The government noted that vaccinated residents returning from the six nations must undergo a seven-day quarantine period, two days in a hotel, and five days at home.
Residents who have not been vaccinated and tourists who have been vaccinated will have to stay in a hotel for the next seven days. Visitors from these nations are not permitted to enter the Gulf nation unless they have been vaccinated, to safeguard the community’s safety while the new variety spreads over the world. Before being freed from quarantine on the seventh day, all parties must undergo a negative PCR test 72 hours before arrival in Qatar, upon arrival in the country, and on the sixth day of quarantine.
Citizens from the remaining extraordinary red-list nations will be quarantined at home for two days if they are completely vaccinated. If they don’t, they’ll have to stay in quarantine for seven days when they arrive. Fully vaccinated visitors from Qatar and the Gulf Cooperation Council will be subjected to a two-day hotel quarantine upon arrival in the country. Arrivals who have not been vaccinated will be quarantined at the hotel for seven days. Fully vaccinated tourists with pre-approved and on-arrival visas, on the other hand, will be subjected to a two-day hotel quarantine upon arrival.
Visitors who have not been vaccinated are not permitted to enter Qatar. For all age groups, a negative PCR test must be completed within 72 hours of arrival, and another test must be completed on the first day of quarantine. The green and red lists have been separated into groups A and B as per the new standards. All Qatar citizens and residents who have been fully vaccinated by a vaccine approved by the Ministry of Public Health, either inside or outside Qatar, or who have a conditionally approved vaccine, or who have recovered from COVID-19 inside Doha, with at least 14 days passing from the date of recovery, are included in Group A.
Travelers from the green and red nations will be excused from quarantine upon arrival in Qatar if they follow the ministry’s test procedure, which can be seen on their official website. Travelers from countries on the green list who have not been vaccinated, are ineligible for the vaccine or have not finished the requisite vaccination doses must stay at home for seven days after arriving in the country. Those arriving from countries on the red list will be subject to seven-day home quarantine. GCC citizens arriving from green-listed countries who have been fully vaccinated by a MoPH-approved vaccine, either inside or outside Qatar, or who have a conditionally approved vaccine, or who have recovered from COVID-19 within a GCC country and 14 days have passed since the date of recovery, are exempt from quarantine.
Those arriving in Qatar from red-listed nations, on the other hand, will be subjected to a two-day hotel quarantine. Visitors from the Gulf Cooperation Council who are not fully vaccinated, are ineligible for vaccination, or have not completed the required vaccine doses must stay in a hotel for seven days upon the arrival.GCC citizens (non-residents) visiting first-degree relatives in Qatar are subject to a seven-day home quarantine upon arrival if they produce evidence of relationship and national address information.
Quarantine and testing policies for travelers to Doha with pre-approved and on-arrival visas are listed in Group B. Travelers from countries on the green list who have been completely vaccinated with a vaccine approved by the Ministry of Public Health or who have received one of the conditionally approved vaccinations are free from quarantining. Those arriving from nations on the red list, however, must stay in a hotel for two days. Travelers from both green and red-listed countries who are not completely vaccinated or have not finished the requisite vaccination doses, regardless of age, will be subjected to a seven-day hotel quarantine upon arrival in the country. Those with pre-issued family visas who travel to Qatar to see one of their first-degree relatives will be subjected to a seven-day home quarantine unless they produce evidence of relationship and national address data.
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