Saudi Arabia Suspended Flights From 20 Different Countries Including India; To Curb Virus Spread

In an attempt to curb the spread of the virus, the middle eastern country has suspended flights.

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New Delhi: Saudi Arabia has suspended flights from 20 different countries including India in an attempt to curb Covid-19 cases in the country. The suspension came into effect at 9pm GST+3 on Wednesday, February 3, 2020.

According to Arab News, travel has been banned from UAE, Egypt, Lebanon, and Turkey, as well as the US, UK, Germany, France, Italy, Ireland, Portugal, Switzerland, Sweden, Brazil, Argentina, South Africa, India, Indonesia, Pakistan and Japan. It also applies to travelers who transited through any of the 20 countries in the 14 days before a planned visit to the Kingdom as Saudi is a popular transit hub for places where direct flights aren't available.

The suspension however, does not apply to Saudi nationals and citizens, diplomats, health practitioners and their families, and people ho have travelled to any of the restricted countries in the past 14 days must quarantine in their homes for a period of 14 days on arrival to the country. Whereas people who are travelling from countries which are not restricted will have to quarantine for seven days. According to the Arab News report, Health officials in order to prevent the virus spreading stricter measures would be necessary towards people who flouted regulations on social distancing and the ban on large gatherings. 

Last month, UK banned direct passenger flights to and from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), shutting down the world's busiest international airline route from Dubai to London.