November 3 – Qatar’s health authorities are confident there will be no serious fan incidents at the World Cup where over 1 million spectators are anticipated later this month.
Public health experts explained – in an online briefing hosted by the Geneva-based World Health Organisation – that they have done everything possible to avoid spectators getting hurt.
Last month more than 130 fans died at a domestic game in Indonesia due to tear gas being used and insufficient exit organisation but Qatar says it has all the tools in place.
“Surprises happen but we are prepared as much as humanly possible for such events,” said Dr. Soha Al Bayat from the Qatari Ministry of Public Health.
“There were events that happened recently in other countries where there were injuries and there were casualties so, of course, we bear that in mind,” she said.
Qatar has scrapped mandatory Covid-19 testing for international arrivals but Dr. Al Bayat told reporters that in the event of “any outbreak anywhere in the world, we are on top of that.”
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