Saudi Arabia has suspended all international commercial flights for a week amid reports of the appearance of a new mutated strain of coronavirus in a number of European countries, the Saudi Press Agency reported citing an official source at the Saudi Ministry of Interior on Sunday.
The ban also applies to entry of passengers to the Kingdom through land and sea ports, the source said.
“These procedures will be reviewed in light of the developments related to the pandemic, and what is received from the Ministry of Health,” the source said in a statement.
A number of European countries have imposed new travel restrictions and halted flights from and to Britain amid fear of the spread of the new virus strain.
Foreign flights that are currently in the Saudi territory will be exempt and will be allowed to leave, the source said.
The move follows a number of more targeted travel bans implemented by several other countries in reaction to the new disease variant, which was initially discovered in the southeast of England. Saudi authorities could extend the closure depending on disease activity after the first week has elapsed.
Domestically, commercial and business activities are operating but strict public health measures in place. Establishments that open must implement enhanced sanitization procedures, perform temperature checks of employees and patrons, and comply with social distancing guidelines. All gatherings are limited to no more than 50 people.
The decisions, which have been taken as precautionary measures, are the following:
1. Temporary suspension of all commercial international flights for travelers, except in emergency cases, for a week, which can be extended for another week. However, the foreign flights that are currently in the Kingdom are allowed to leave.
2. Suspension of the entry to the Kingdom through land and seaports temporarily for a period of one week and it can be extended for another week.
3. Everyone, who has returned from one of the European countries or any country where the new strain has appeared after Dec. 8, 2020, must adhere to the following:
A. Self-isolate for a period of two weeks from the date of his arrival in the Kingdom.
B. Undergo coronavirus tests during his isolation period after every five days.
C. Anyone, who has returned from or passed through a European country or any country where the new strain of COVID-19 appeared over the past three months, must take a coronavirus test.
The measures will be reviewed in the light of the developments related to the pandemic based on the assessment of the Ministry of Health, according to the source.
