Saudi Arabia on Sunday announced that foreign travelers from most countries will no longer need to undergo quarantine if they have been vaccinated against COVID-19. With this, the country is now ready to operate international flights at full capacity. Meanwhile, the new order will come into effect from May 20.
Last year, Saudi Arabia banned international travel with the aim to contain the spread of the coronavirus. However, the travelers from 20 other countries – including the United States, UK, France, India, Germany and the United Arab Emirates – will remain suspended from entering the kingdom.
At the same time, the civil aviation authority said, "The GACA stressed on the air carriers the need to carry all travellers who are not Saudi citizens and the exempted travellers, immunized and unvaccinated groups the health certificates approved in the Kingdom (Coronavirus examination certificates PCR) not exceeding 72 hours from the flight time for those over 8 years or older, while non-citizen immunized persons are allowed entry."
Meanwhile, Saudi Arabian Airlines said it has completed preparations to operate flights from 71 airports, including 28 domestic and 43 international destinations. The General Authority of Civil Aviation said that about 385 flights are expected to operate at airports across the state on Monday.
However, the government of Saudi Arabia said that entry from many Covid-affected countries, directly or through another country, without prior permission will still remain suspended. These countries include India, Libya, Syria, Lebanon, Yemen, Iran. Turkey, Armenia, Somalia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Afghanistan, Venezuela and Belarus. According to the Johns Hopkins University, Saudi Arabia has reported 433,094 COVID-19 cases and 7,162 related deaths so far.
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