Saudi Arabia has officially reopened their borders a week after they implemented a countrywide entry ban.
Entry through Saudi’s land, sea and airports has resumed as of 11:00 am, as per reports from the Saudi Press Agency.
An official from Saudi’s Ministry of Interior states that expat travellers coming from the UK, South Africa, and other countries that have reported cases of the new coronavirus strain as announced by Saudi’s health ministry, has to stay outside of these countries for at least 14 days before they are allowed entry.
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“Entry into the Kingdom for non-citizens coming from the United Kingdom and South Africa, as well as from any other country being specified by the Ministry of Health, in which the new variant of the novel coronavirus (B. 1, 1, 7) is spread, shall be provided that whoever wishes to enter shall spend a period of no less than (14) days outside the country in which the new coronavirus variant (B. 1, 1, 7) is spread before entering the Kingdom, with a (PCR) examination after the expiration of this period, proving that he/she is Covid-19 infection-free,” read the statement.
“As for the countries in which cases of the strain (B. 1, 1, 7) were registered, those coming from them shall be quarantined in their homes under observance for a period of (7) days, with PCR examination, before the end of the quarantine period on the sixth day,” it added.
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Meanwhile, Saudi citizens will be allowed direct entry even from countries where the new coronavirus strain has already taken hold, with stricter COVID-19 regulations.
“Citizens who are allowed to enter into the Kingdom for humanitarian and urgent cases coming from countries where the new coronavirus variant (B. 1, 1, 7) is spread, shall be quarantined, pursuant to paragraph (1 ) above, in their homes under observance for a period of (14) days, with two (PCR) examinations of the first shall be carried out after arrival within no more than (48) hours and the second before ending the quarantine on the 13th day,” read the statement.
