Saudi resumes int'l flights, reopens land, sea borders

Saudi Arabia has resumed international flights and reopened its land and sea borders, Saudi Press Agency reported late Saturday citing an official source at the interior ministry.

The Kingdom reimposed a temporary travel ban on Dec. 20 following the emergence of a mutated variant of COVID-19 in a number of European countries.

The move, which is effective from 11 a.m. on Sunday (Jan.3), comes amid some restrictions which include the following:

1. Non-Saudis arriving from the United Kingdom, South Africa, and other countries where a new variant of the virus has been detected must stay at least 14 days out of these countries before entering Saudi Arabia.

2. Citizens, who are allowed to enter into the Kingdom for humanitarian and urgent cases coming from countries where the new coronavirus variant has been reported, shall be quarantined in their homes under observance for 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.

3. Travelers coming from countries where the variant has been reported, they must quarantine at home under supervision for 7 days and take a PCR test on the sixth day from arrival.

4. Travelers coming from countries where the variant has not been detected, they must self-isolate at home for 7 days or self-isolate at home for 3 days and take a PCR test.-Saudi Gazette