Indian Embassy questions post-travel quarantine needs

The Indian Embassy in Qatar stepped in to take care of the concerns of Indian citizens and companies in Qatar on post-travel quarantine requirements.

In an online meeting with representatives of bodies affiliated with the embassy, Ambassador HE Dr Deepak Mittal said the embassy had raised demands for an exemption to hotel quarantine for vaccinated Indians with authorities concerned in Qatar.

President of Indian Cultural Centre P N Baburajan, who took part in the meeting, said the quarantine expenses were dissuading a lot of families from going home and companies from bringing recruits.

At present, all travellers from India — and five other high-risk COVID-19 countries — are required to undergo a mandatory 10-day institutional quarantine upon arrival in Qatar, irrespective of whether they are vaccinated or not.

Baburajan said embassy’s involvement in facilitating the lifting of the quarantine requirement for vaccinated Indians was sought at the meeting, prompting the ambassador to pledge the embassy’s continued support in adequately highlighting the issue.