2024 RT Amination Banner.gif

China Daily

News> Sports> Content
Published: 12:17, September 30, 2022
Qatar confirms COVID test requirements for World Cup fans
By Reuters
Published:12:17, September 30, 2022 By Reuters

In this Sept 3, 2019 file photo, the official logo of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 is unveiled on a giant screen in Madrid. (GABRIEL BOUYS / AFP)

Fans attending the World Cup in Qatar must show proof of a negative COVID-19 test result regardless of their vaccination status, organizers said in a statement on Thursday.

All visitors aged six and over must present a negative result from a PCR test taken within 48 hours before their departure or from a rapid antigen test taken in the 24 hours before arriving, the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy said.

Results of the rapid antigen tests will only be accepted if they are from official medical centers and not self-administered. No further tests will be required in Qatar if visitors do not develop symptoms of COVID-19.

Visitors aged 18 and above will also be required to download a government-run contact tracing phone application called Ehteraz

Visitors aged 18 and above will also be required to download a government-run contact tracing phone application called Ehteraz.

READ MORE: La Liga returns with intense seven weeks until World Cup

"A green Ehteraz status (showing the user does not have a confirmed case of COVID-19) is required to enter any public closed indoor spaces," the statement added.

Fans will have to wear masks on public transport but vaccination is not mandatory for the unprecedented influx of 1.2 million visitors expected for the Nov 20-Dec 18 tournament.

"Anyone who tests positive for COVID-19 while in Qatar will be required to isolate in accordance with Ministry of Public Health guidelines," the statement said.

ALSO READ: Qatar conscripts civilians for World Cup security

Qatar has recorded more than 440,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 692 deaths from the virus, according to data from the Ministry of Public Health.

The country has a population of 2.8 million, of which barely 380,000 are Qatari nationals. A total of 7,487,616 vaccine doses have been administered so far, the data states.


Share this story

CHINA DAILY
HONG KONG NEWS
OPEN
Please click in the upper right corner to open it in your browser !