Saudi Arabia lifts precautionary measures for COVID19

Riyadh: All precautionary and preventive measures related to combating coronavirus pandemic have been lifted in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

An Interior Ministry official source said that based on the follow-up to the epidemiological situation of coronavirus, it has been decided to lift the precautionary and preventive measures related to combating the pandemic, as of Saturday. This comes after the competent health authorities’ feedback, and the progress that has been achieved in combating the pandemic, the unlimited support of the leadership, the effective national efforts from all sides, the progress in the national vaccination programme and the high rates of immunisation and immunity against the virus in the community. Here is what people need to follow:

First: Suspending the application of social distancing measures in the Grand Holy Mosque, the Prophet’s Holy Mosque, mosques, while continuing to abide by wearing masks inside these facilities.

Second: Suspending the application of social distancing measures in all open and closed places, activities, and events.

Third: Wearing masks is no longer requested in open areas, however, they will continue to be needed to be worn in closed places.

Fourth: PCR tests, Rapid Antigen Test are no longer requested to be provided by passengers arriving in the Kingdom.

Fifth: Passengers arriving into the Kingdom on visit visas are requested to have medical insurance to cover the costs of treatment from infection with COVID-19 during the period of stay in the Kingdom.

Sixth: Passengers arriving in the Kingdom are no longer requested to abide by institutional and home quarantine to combat the pandemic.

Seventh: Lifting the suspension of direct arrival to the Kingdom, and lifting the suspension of all flights coming to and departing from the Kingdom to the following countries - South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Eswatini, Mozambique, Malawi, Mauritius, Zambia, Madagascar, Angola, Seychelles, Comoros, Nigeria, Ethiopia, and Afghanistan.

The official source stressed the importance of the implementation of the national immunisation plan, which includes taking the third or booster dose, and applying procedures to verify the health status in the “Tawakkalna” application to enter facilities, activities, events, boarding planes, and public transportation, adding that the measures taken above are subject to continuous evaluation by the competent health authorities in the Kingdom and as per to the developments in the epidemiological situation.