Qatar’s EHTERAZ mobile application was developed to basically speed up the process of contact tracing as part of its effort to combat the spread of COVID-19.

This was first unveiled on April 9, 2020, at a press conference held by the Supreme Committee for Crisis Management.Starting then onwards, it’s a must for citizens and residents to have it installed on their mobile phones and have it everywhere they are. Most Q&A about the EHTERAZ app are stated below.

Ever since EHTERAZ mobile application was released, it has had multiple updates and additions to it. Find the list of updates at the bottom of this article.

1. What is the EHTERAZ app?

• The development of Ehteraz, Qatar’s contact tracing app, has provided an advanced application to support public health teams in monitoring the spread of the virus and identifying people who may be at risk of having contracted COVID-19.
• The fast development and launch of the Ehteraz app meant Qatar was one of the first countries in the world to roll out a COVID-19 contact tracing app nationally.
• Mandatory for all adults in Qatar, the Ehteraz application provides live status of each person’s current COVID-19 health and vaccination status.

2. Who needs to download Ehteraz? (Is EHTERAZ app compulsory?)

It is mandatory for all citizens, residents and visitors to install the Ehteraz App on their bile phones and have it running at all times when outside of their home. Citizens and residents should use their QID to register and visitors should use their visit visa number.

In some cases, and only if in the accompaniment of another adult who has downloaded the Ehteraz App, the following groups are exempt from installing the Ehteraz App: Minors under the age of 18 years, individuals over the age of 65 years old, and individuals with special needs. Any individuals who are moving around the country alone, even in the above categories, must download the Ehteraz App and present it upon request.

Diplomats have a special status and are exempt except in the case they are COVID-19 positive, in which case they must also download the app.

3. Where can I download the EHTERAZ app?

• For iPhone users, you can download it on the Apple Store here.
• For Android users, you can download it from Google Play Store here.

1. How to install and register? (QID holders)
2. After installation and opening the app for the first time, you will be asked to allow the app to use Bluetooth, send notifications, and change location authorization to ‘Always’ from the settings.
3. Press the START button.
4. Choose language and press ACCEPT after reading the Terms & Conditions.
5. You will be asked to type in your mobile number, QID number, and QID expiration date. Press the REGISTER button.
6. An OTP number will be sent to your mobile number. Enter it in the space provided on the app to complete the registration.
7. You will then be able to see what is your QR Health Code and will now be able to use the app.

The Health Status display on Ehteraz confirms the COVID-19 status of the user through four colours:

• Red: Confirmed Infected. The Red status is displayed if the user has tested positive for COVID-19 after having a PCR or Rapid Antigen Test at an authorized medical centre in Qatar.
• Yellow: Quarantine. People with a yellow status are considered at risk of having COVID-19 (i.e. have recently travelled abroad, have been in verified close contact with a COVID-19 positive individual) and therefore in order to protect these individuals as well as other people in the community, have been placed under mandatory quarantine in MOPH-approved quarantine facility. These individuals must stay in their designated quarantine location; otherwise they will be deemed in violation.
• Gray: Post-travel test/Suspected/Exposed. People with a gray status are suspected of having COVID-19, or recent travel; and have been tested for COVID-19 and awaiting results or require a COVID-19 test as soon as possible, including those required to perform a post-travel COVID-19 test
• Green: Negative. The green status is displayed if the user does not have COVID-19. This may include people who have had a COVID-19 positive test result in the past, but have recovered.

Previous COVID-19 test status

• Last COVID-19 test date.
• Test result with number of days since a negative test.
• Recovered Status and Date of recovery for previously infected individuals.

Vaccination Status

• COVID-19 vaccine type
• Date of first dose
• Date of second dose
• Date of booster (third) dose

Gold Frame for fully vaccinated individuals

A Gold Frame will be present around the coloured health status of users who are fully vaccinated as
per the below:

• Individuals who have had two doses of MOPH approved COVID-19 vaccines and no more than 9
  months have passed following administration of the second dose.
• Individuals who have received their booster dose – a booster dose will ensure the Gold Frame
  remains for a further 9 months.

16. Do unvaccinated recovered individuals receive a Gold Frame on Ehteraz?

• No. Individuals who are recovered from COVID-19 are eligible for the same privileges as vaccinated people under the current COVID-19 restrictions.
• However, these individuals will not receive a Gold Frame. To prove their recovered status, they can show the recovered date on their Ehteraz application to relevant authorities.

17. When will the Red Ehteraz Health Status return to Green for confirmed cases?

• Individuals who test positive for COVID-19 with a PCR or Rapid Antigen Test at an approved medical centre will have their Ehteraz Health Status turned to Red for a minimum of 7 days.
• These individuals will be required to have a rapid antigen test at a medical facility authorized by the Ministry on day 7.
• Any tests done before day 7, even if a negative result is received, will not change the Ehteraz status to Green.
• If the day 7 rapid antigen test is positive, the individual must undergo a further 3 days of isolation and will be given an additional 3 days of sick-leave and they are free to leave isolation on day 11 with no requirement for a further test.

18. What change occurs to Ehteraz if an individual has a Reactive test result?

• A reactive PCR test indicates that a low level COVID-19 infection has been detected, which could be either the start or latter stages of the infection.
• Individuals who test Reactive for COVID-19 with a PCR at an approved medical centre will have their Ehteraz Status turned to Yellow for 7 days.
• These individuals will be required to have a rapid antigen test at a medical facility authorized by the Ministry on day 7.
• If the result of this test is negative or reactive, the individual’s Ehteraz status will change to green after midnight and they will be able to leave isolation and return to work on day 8.
• If the day 7 rapid antigen test is positive, the Ehteraz status will change to red. The individual must undergo a further 3 days of isolation and will be given an additional 3 days of sick-leave, and they are free to leave isolation on day 11 (counting from date of reactive swab) with no requirement for a further test.

19. How long does it take for PCR and Rapid Antigen Test results to be reflected in the Ehteraz Health Status?

PCR tests

• At Primary Health Care Corporation facilities: results will be reflected in Ehteraz approximately six hours after the user receives the test result SMS.
• At private clinics and medical centers authorized by MOPH and linked to Ehteraz: results will be reflected in Ehteraz approximately six hours after the user receives the test result SMS.

Rapid Antigen Tests

• At Primary Health Care Corporation facilities: results will be reflected in Ehteraz approximately six hours after the test.
• At private clinics and medical centers authorized by MOPH and linked to Ehteraz: results will be reflected in Ehteraz approximately six hours after the test.

20. I believe my Ehteraz Health Status colour should have changed by now, yet it has not. What can I do?

1. Delete any VPN installed and make sure you are connected to a local network.
2. Clear the cache
3. Restart the device
4. Delete the Ehteraz App and then reinstall
5. Ensure that the latest version of the Ehteraz app is installed

21. I took my RAT at a private clinic, but my Ehteraz has not changed after 6 hours.

Call the clinic to ensure they uploaded the result to the MOPH/HMC systems.

22. I was vaccinated outside Qatar. How do I request the Gold Frame?

• Individuals can verify their vaccination abroad via MOPH by calling 16000 who will take all the information and copies of the vaccination certificates from abroad, and send the information to be verified. If verified, it will be uploaded to Ehteraz.
• Even if the vaccination information from outside Qatar is sent to Ehteraz, official MOPH vaccination certificates from Qatar are not available for those individuals who received all vaccine doses from abroad, and the individual should rely on the vaccination certificate from the country where they received the vaccination.