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Qatar will discontinue pre-arrival Covid testing before the World Cup, the health ministry announced on Wednesday, just weeks after declaring that the million or so incoming spectators do not require vaccines.
The newest relaxation of anti-Covid regulations will go into effect on November 1, just 19 days before the commencement of the first World Cup on Arab soil on November 20.
The flood of spectators, players, officials, staff, and media is by far the largest seen in small, gas-rich Qatar, which has a population of just 2.9 million people.
“Visitors are no longer required to present a negative Covid-19 PCR or Rapid Antigen Test result before travelling to Qatar,” a statement said.
Qatari citizens and residents would also no longer be required to undergo a PCR or quick antigen test within 24 hours after returning from a trip overseas, according to the health ministry.
The 29-day tournament will be the first major worldwide athletic event with a large number of spectators since the Covid pandemic occurred in December 2019, killing over six million people.
The postponed Tokyo 2020 Olympics were staged primarily behind closed doors last year, and the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics were held in a bio-secure bubble.
The event’s Qatari organisers and FIFA’s governing body have stated that they want the game to be a proof that the world is recovering from the horrific pandemic.
Masks are no longer required on public transportation, and they are also not required in the eight World Cup stadiums.
According to the health ministry’s website, 684 people died as a result of Covid-19, with 464,223 people recovering.
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