The Directorate General of Civil Aviation on Friday announced that starting March 1, all passengers flying to Lebanon will no longer have to undergo a PCR test upon arrival in Beirut.

Here’s what we know:

    • Passengers, provided they have received their last dose of a COVID-19 vaccination within six months of their departure, or who are returning to Lebanon after being out of the country for less than a week, will be exempt from obtaining a PCR test before they fly and upon arrival in Beirut, the directorate said in a statement. They are, however, required to upload their vaccination information to the government’s platform before they depart.

    • Passengers who are unvaccinated or are outside the six-month window will also be exempt from undergoing PCR tests on arrival, but will still be required to obtain one no more than 48 hours before their departure.

    • This announcement from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation comes after Health Minister Firass Abiad announced earlier this week the easing of COVID-19 prevention measures, without giving details about which measures would be eased or when. The last few weeks have seen a decline in COVID-19 cases in Lebanon, after they spiked during the holiday period at the end of 2021.