KSA suspends pilgrims entry from virus-hit states including Pakistan
Says restrictions are temporary and will be continuously reviewed by health authorities
February 27, 2020 12:13 PM
In an attempt to ensure public safety by preventing the spread of the coronavirus, Saudi Arabia has announced a temporary ban on Umrah pilgrims from the affected countries including Pakistan.
The move from the Saudi government follows the confirmation of two coronavirus cases in Pakistan on Wednesday evening. All airlines have been directed to inform their passengers to wait for further orders.
Following the ban, several pilgrims were offloaded by Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) and other private airlines who were ready to fly to Saudi Arabia.
The passengers were offloaded from the flights at various airports of the country. A Jeddah-bound flight of the PIA, PK-747 carrying 133 Umrah pilgrims was stopped from take-off from the Karachi Airport. Notices have been placed at airports in this regard.
The authorities are also screening passengers arrived at Karachi Airport from Iran. The plane was taken to a separate area at the airport and the passengers underwent a strict check-up.
According to Arab News, most foreign pilgrims often visit the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah before or after the completion of their religious duties in Makkah, this has also been halted.
It is one of a number of precautionary restrictions announced early Thursday as health authorities in the Kingdom closely monitor the spread of the virus. Tourist-visa holders from countries judged to pose a particularly high risk of spreading the virus will also be denied entry.
In addition, Saudi nationals and citizens of Gulf Cooperation Council nations will not be able to use a national identity card to travel to and from the Kingdom for the time being. Exceptions to this shall be granted to Saudis returning home, and citizens of GCC countries who are in the Kingdom and want to return to their home countries provided that they left or entered the Kingdom using a national identity card.
Health authorities at entry points will verify which countries travellers visited before arriving in Saudi Arabia and apply all necessary precautionary measures.
Saudi officials stressed that the restrictions are temporary and will be continuously reviewed by the health authorities. They reiterated the Kingdom’s support for and implementation of international efforts to limit the spread of the virus, and the Foreign Ministry urged citizens not to travel to the countries worst affected by the coronavirus.
Nearly 7 million Umrah pilgrims visit the Kingdom each year, the majority of whom arrive at airports in Jeddah and Madinah.
Earlier, it emerged that seven Saudis are among the latest coronavirus cases in Bahrain and Kuwait. The Bahraini Ministry of Health on Wednesday said six Saudi women have tested positive for the virus.
They had arrived at Bahrain International Airport on a flight from Iran. The total number of confirmed cases in the country stands at 26. Studies at schools and universities have been suspended for two weeks in an effort to limit the spread of the virus.