Qatar tightens COVID rules for travellers from China

The Qatar News Agency announced on Monday that all travellers from China are required to have a negative Covid-19 test taken no more than 48 hours prior to departure.

The rule will come into effect on Tuesday, January 3.

Qatar's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said all travellers coming to Qatar from China, whether citizens, residents or visitors and regardless of vaccination or immunity status, must present a negative PCR result taken within 48 hours of the time of departure to Qatar.

The updated COVID-19 policy is a temporary measure that has been made to safeguard the passengers coming to Qatar and the community against the virus, with China currently experiencing widespread circulation of COVID-19 within its population, the ministry noted.

Infections of COVID-19 have been rising in China since the government ended its strict zero-COVID policies, including relaxing some of its testing for the virus.

A host of other nations have also imposed restrictions on travelers from China, including France, Britain, the United States, Canada, Spain, Italy, India, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan.

Quarantine is no longer mandatory for travellers coming from abroad. However, travellers, who are infected with the virus after they arrive in Qatar, must undergo health isolation in accordance with the country's procedures. It is also no longer mandatory for citizens and residents of Qatar to take a rapid antigen test upon arrival in the country, the ministry added.