As countries around the world have imposed flight restrictions and closed airports, among other precautionary measures to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), many people are unable to travel back to their home countries or as planned earlier.

For those visitors stuck in Qatar due to the same reason, the Ministry of Interior (MOI) today announced that they can stay in the country "without extending the visa or paying any fee."

The announcement applies to visitors who are in Qatar on an on-arrival or in-advance tourist visa.

Visitors in the country on tourist visas (on-arrival and priorly issued visas) can stay in the country without extending their visas or paying any fee, taking into account their inability to return to their home countries due to closure of airports. #MoIQatar #Qatar #COVID19 pic.twitter.com/jdA1QyTEy2

— Ministry of Interior (@MOI_QatarEn) April 20, 2020

"In accordance with the Law No. 21 of 2010 regarding the regulation of entry and exit of expatriates and their residence, it was decided to allow visitors in the country on tourist visas (on-arrival and in-advance) to stay in the country, until the flight services resumed," the MOI tweet states.

Furthermore, MOI confirmed that when the flights resume operations as normal to the visitors' home countries, they "will be granted a grace period to leave the country."

The Ministry of Interior explain that it was decided to allow visitors to stay without the need to extend their visa or pay its fees. #QNA pic.twitter.com/Edp5QXwnwD

— Qatar News Agency (@QNAEnglish) April 20, 2020

Earlier, under preventive and precautionary measures to limit the spread of the infection and protect its population, Qatar also announced the cancellation of all incoming flights to the country, except for air cargo and transit flights, in addition to receiving any of the Qatari citizens coming from any destination.

Meanwhile, health authorities in Qatar continue to implement the highest level of monitoring, detection, and management procedures to deal with the virus, the public has been advised to follow certain measures to safeguard their health.