A false start … and who on earth is Ehteraz?

I first heard about Ehteraz in the build-up to my departure for Doha. By all accounts, this Ehteraz, whose name constantly escaped me, was important and extremely well connected. It was best, folk warned, that I get to know him as soon as I could.

Who is Ehteraz?

But he beat me to it. Etheraz, whose name is uttered with guttural vehemence by my significant other, made his presence known at OR Tambo Airport when airport staff sought his approval for my flight.

I told you he was powerful!

You see, Etheraz is the official mandatory contact tracing application for the State of Qatar as approved by the Ministry of Public Health.

Everyone who lives in Qatar needs him / it on their cellphones. Without him (because Ehteraz will always be an officious, overbearing man to me), you’re stifled. You cannot enter shops, schools, public transport, events, restaurants or anywhere really. You have to show your COVID-19 health status wherever you go. 

In my case, despite trying to pre-register as a newcomer to the country, he wouldn’t even let me leave South Africa! 

After completing the app steps (Qatar contact number, passport number, country of origin and type of passport) to install Ehteraz on my phone, the same response of “error connection” popped up time and again.

Naively, and desperately, I trotted around the airport like a headless chicken seeking better WiFi signal/connectivity. (Those who know me will appreciate this little cameo knowing how technologically challenged I am! But when you are stressed and desperate, you’ll try most things.) It was all in vain. Without my friend, Ehteraz, and the supporting paperwork for vaccinations and the PCR test results all uploaded on the Qatari national system, no amount of calls to travel agents or pleas to airways staff will secure you a spot on a flight.

Rolling with the punches

Thanks to two years of COVID uncertainty, we’ve all learnt to roll with the punches. So, in spite of the extreme stress and subsequent disappointment, I was remarkably calm and philosophical about being turned away. Well, I was that evening as we retrieved our four carefully packed suitcases from baggage control (it’s close to the SAPS office and PCR testing at ground level) … but confess to crying into my Wimpey bacon and eggs the next morning before boarding a flight back to Port Elizabeth.

Try, try, try again

Of course, the Derry dogs were delighted to have us back again, and I dare say, a few others too. But most were simply surprised or confused when, perchance, they met us. After the umpteenth explanation of the failed departure, it was easier just to lie low and quietly establish the error of Ehteraz and shortcomings in our documentation before trying again.

Within a week, a second PCR test, new tickets, confirmation of all the correct documentation and a second round of cheery goodbyes, we were winging our way to Johannesburg once again.

Ehteraz still showed “error connection”, but I worried not a dash … because today, my new best friend is now connected, in the palm of my hand and hard at work everywhere we go in Doha. With my “green QR code” (showing my present COVID-negative status), he is happily granting me access to all and sundry in the Land of Sand.