Travellers don’t need an exceptional entry permit or a hotel quarantine to go on this holiday package.

Good news for Qatar’s residents and citizens as Qatar Airways announced an extension to its travel bubble package to Maldives until February 5, 2021, with the last departure on January 31, 2021. 

Those interested can book the package until Jan 15, 2021. For booking made on or before Jan 7, travelers can use code ‘maldives deal’ for a discount. 

While Maldives is no longer on Qatar’s Ministry of Public Health’s ‘Green List,’ those travelling as a part of the Qatar Airways package do not have to apply for an Exceptional Entry Permit or quarantine once they are back from the holiday. 

Read also: Second COVID-19 vaccine shipment to arrive “as soon as possible”

The extension comes as COVID-19 cases continue to steadily drop in Qatar, where the first vaccine campaign is underway and life seems to be returning to some degree of normalcy. 

The ministry of health has given students the green light to continue schools at 50% capacity, while social spaces will remain open with all social distancing and other precautionary measures in place. 

However, this is not the case around the world where a mutated COVID-19 virus has been discovered, prompting governments to take swift action to protect their borders.

Since the new strain was discovered in the United Kingdom, more than 60 countries banned flights to and from the country.

While Qatar has not done so, it has introduced separate quarantine hotels for passengers returning from the UK, South Africa, The Netherlands and Denmark.  

Qatar is now awaiting the second shipment of COVID-19 vaccines which are expected to arrive in the country early 2021.

Those are eligible for the vaccine will be contacted directly by authorities to ensure priority groups receive the vaccine first.