The entry of travellers from around 20 countries has been banned by Saudi Arabia amid rising cases of coronavirus. On Tuesday, the middle-eastern nation released a statement saying that a temporary ban on flights from over 20 countries will come in effect, except for diplomats, Saudi citizens, medical professionals and their families.
The suspension which comes into effect from Wednesday (February 3) includes travellers from United Arab Emirates (UAE), India, Germany, the United States (USA), the United Kingdom (UK), Pakistan, Argentina, Sweden, Switzerland, Brazil, Indonesia, South Africa, France, Egypt, Lebanon, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Portugal, Turkey.
The move was taken as a precautionary measure by the Ministry of Health, which will also apply to those travellers who transited through the above-mentioned 20 countries within 14 days before their planned journey to the country.
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The time duration of the temporary ban on flights has not been mentioned yet.
Saudi Arabia’s health ministry day said the country recorded 310 new coronavirus cases before the ban. A total of people tested positive for Covid-19 stands at 368,639 on Wednesday; whereas over 6,000 people have succumbed to the disease.