MoPH issues Covid advisory for travellers

The Ministry of Public Health has issued today Covid-19 precautionary advice to people traveling abroad for summer vacations. With the number of new daily Covid-19 cases in Qatar rising in recent weeks, and with many countries around the world experiencing high numbers of Covid-19 cases, the Ministry stressed the importance of travelers adhering to Covid-19 precautionary measures when aboard to protect themselves and their families and reduce the risk of getting infected and falling sick to the virus or bringing the virus back and infecting their families. The Ministry explained that even though the Covid-19 precautionary restrictions have been lifted in Qatar, it is still recommended for all members of the community to voluntarily follow the precautionary measures to protect their health. The Ministry recommends simple but effective precautionary measures to keep individuals safe when travelling abroad. The Ministry recommends to check the Covid-19 travel policy of the country you are visiting to in advance of your travel and ensure you adhere to all requirements for vaccination status and testing or any forms to be completed, check the Covid-19 measures in place within the country you are visiting to ensure you adhere to all requirements and review the MoPH Covid-19 Travel and Return Policy for the latest testing and quarantine requirements following your return to Qatar. The Ministry called on travelers to ensure to get vaccinated against Covid-19 with all doses for which you are eligible including the booster dose before travelling for maximum protection, adhere to the following precautionary measures during your travel, especially in countries where Covid-19 is circulating widely in the community, wash hands regularly with soap and water or use a hand sanitizer, avoid physical contact when greeting others, including abstaining from shaking hands and kissing, follow cough etiquette and use your sleeve to cover your nose and mouth when coughing and sneezing or use tissue paper and dispose of it appropriately, and wear a face mask in closed public places when you are near other people, in crowded indoor settings, near someone who has respiratory symptoms or when you have respiratory symptoms. The Ministry asked to avoid gathering and crowded and poorly ventilated places as much as possible and to obtain traveler health insurance where possible. The Ministry called on all eligible individuals to receive their Covid-19 booster dose. Anyone aged 12 years and above who had their second dose more than six months ago is eligible for a booster dose, with eligible people able to receive their booster vaccine dose at one of the 28 Primary Health Care Corporation health centers as well as the Qatar Vaccination Center for Business and Industry in Bu Garn. At present, Pfizer vaccine is approved for booster dose for those 12 and above while Moderna vaccine is approved for those 18 and above. A fourth vaccine dose is also available for individuals 50 years of age and older and those with chronic diseases that increase their risk for severe Covid-19 infection, regardless of their age. The fourth dose is offered to these vulnerable individuals after four months from their booster dose (third dose) or Covid-19 infection.