The Qatar government has added several countries, including Bangladesh, to its “Exceptional Red List” of travel and return policy following a significant surge in Covid-19 cases in those places.
Qatar classifies countries into two lists – Green and Red – in addition to a secondary Exceptional Red List on the basis of international and local health risk indicators and the Covid-19 situation in the different countries.
The updated lists come into effect at 7pm Saturday (Qatar time), according to the country’s health ministry website.
The countries currently in the Exceptional Red List are Bangladesh, Egypt, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia and Zimbabwe.
For these nine “high-risk” countries, returning travellers must obtain a PCR test no more than 72 hours before arriving in Qatar. Fully vaccinated travellers will be subject to hotel quarantine for two days upon arrival, while unvaccinated ones will have to quarantine at home or hotel depending on their citizenship status.
Meanwhile, unvaccinated visitors to Qatar with pre-approved and on-arrival visas will not be allowed entry at all.