In response to gradually increasing COVID-19 cases, Saudi Arabia has banned citizens from traveling to 16 countries across Asia, Africa, and South America.

Additional information

As reported by The Gulf News, the countries named on the list are India, Lebanon, Syria, Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan, Yemen, Somalia, Ethiopia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Libya, Indonesia, Vietnam, Armenia, Belarus, and Venezuela.

On Saturday, the Saudi Ministry of Health announced 414 new infections of COVID, with the weekly figures seeing a five-fold increase compared to those seen through March and April. Around 81 cases were critical, with covid-related death reported.

Saudia 787 Dreamliner
Saudia will deploy its Boeing 787 on the route. Photo: Getty Images

The inclusion of fifteen countries on the list seems a confusing decision, with only DRC having reported an increase in COVID cases.

Saudi’s General Directorate of Passports has also noted that citizens intending to travel outside the kingdom must have received three doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, with children between 12 and 16 only requiring two. Exemptions remain in place for those that have received a vaccine waiver based on medical grounds.

No announcement has been made regarding how long the measures will be enforced, and it appears no new restrictions have been implemented for incoming passengers.

Word from officials

Concerns have been raised in the country regarding reports of monkeypox worldwide; though it has not played a part in the recent flight bans. The health ministry has addressed the virus, assuring that infections have not been detected within the country.

“There is a standard definition of suspected cases and how to confirm them, and monitoring and diagnosis methods are available in the Kingdom’s laboratories,” noted Dr. Abdullah Asiri, Deputy Minister of Preventative Health.

According to World Health Organization data, around 80 cases of monkeypox have been confirmed across 11 countries.

Hong Kong Airport
Some international closures remain in place, notably that of Hong Kong International Airport, which has seen a drastic decline in passenger figures. Photo: Hong Kong International Airport

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International closures

Despite worldwide COVID cases seeing a decline and many nations reopening up for travel, strict border measures remain in place for several countries, including China, Japan, and Taiwan.

In its fight to achieve its “Zero COVID” goal, China has notably kept its doors shut to almost all international travelers, causing severe disruption across the Eastern aviation industry.

Once one of the busiest cargo and passenger hubs worldwide, the tightening of China’s air border saw Hong Kong International Airport’s yearly passenger figures drop to less than 6 million in 2021, lower than 2019’s monthly averages. Hong Kong is an outlier, with incoming passengers from certain countries able to enter, providing they are vaccinated, take a test on arrival, and are willing to quarantine for seven days regardless of a negative result.

Airlines are already looking to alternative hub airports to bypass restrictions, with Singapore Changi Airport and Incheon International Airport floated as potential replacements for Hong Kong.

Speaking during a press briefing in April, Director-General of the IATA, Willie Walsh, explained that Hong Kong was “completely off the map,” noting that it would be difficult for the airport to recover.

What do you think of Saudi Arabia’s decision to ban its citizens from traveling to sixteen countries? Let us know in the comments.

Sources: The Gulf News