Saudi Arabia halts all international flights over virus

By Hamdi Yildiz

RIYADH (AA) - Saudi Arabia decided Sunday to suspend all international passenger flights for one week except in exceptional cases following news of a new strain of the coronavirus, according to local media.

The official Saudi Press Agency (SPA) cited sources with the Interior Ministry as saying that the travel ban can be extended for another week.

Saudi Arabia took the measure “based on what the Ministry of Health submitted regarding the spread of a new strain of the novel coronavirus in a number of countries,” said SPA.

The exceptional cases are foreign flights that are currently inside the Kingdom, which are allowed to leave.

The country also suspended entry to the Kingdom through land and seaports temporarily for one week.

Those who have returned from European countries or any high-risk countries after Dec. 8 must self-isolate for two weeks from the date of entering the Kingdom.

They must also take a COVID-19 test during the isolation period and retake the test every five days.

“Anyone who has returned from or passed through a European country, or any country where the new strain has appeared, during the past three months must take a COVID-19 test,” the SPA added.

The movement of goods, commodities and supply chains from countries where the new strain of COVID-19 has not appeared are excluded from the measures, the agency said.

The travel restrictions will be reviewed in accordance with coronavirus-related developments.

The move came as several European countries including France, Germany, Italy and Austria announced a suspension of flights from the UK amid news of the strain.

The World Health Organization also asked European countries to redouble their health measures amid the new fast-spreading strain.