27 Feb 2020 | 06:42 AM UTC

Saudi Arabia: Government issues new COVID-19 entry restrictions February 27 /update 4

Ministry of Foreign Affairs issues temporarily COVID-19 related travel bans and restricts pilgrimages in Mecca and Medina on February 27; confirm travel itineraries

TIMEFRAME expected from 2/27/2020, 12:00 AM until 4/30/2020, 11:59 PM (Asia/Riyadh). COUNTRY/REGION Saudi Arabia

Read all related news alert(s):

24 Sep 04:45 PM UTC —

Saudi Arabia: Authorities suspend flights to Brazil, India, and Argentina September 23 /update 48

13 Sep 07:31 PM UTC —

Saudi Arabia: Authorities to lift some international flight restrictions from September 15 /update 47

03 Sep 01:10 PM UTC —

Saudi Arabia: International flights remain suspended until further notice September 2 /update 46

30 Aug 04:03 PM UTC —

Saudi Arabia: Authorities extend international flight ban until September 29 /update 45

19 Aug 01:34 AM UTC —

Saudi Arabia: Over 300,000 COVID-19 cases reported as of August 18 /update 44

05 Aug 09:33 PM UTC —

Saudi Arabia: Authorities reopen land borders with UAE, Bahrain, and Kuwait August 5 /update 43

01 Aug 04:29 PM UTC —

Saudi Arabia: Authorities extend visas for expats outside of the Kingdom until October 27 /update 42

01 Aug 08:53 AM UTC —

Saudi Arabia: Over 750,000 COVID-19 cases reported as of August 1 /update 41

25 Jun 05:45 PM UTC —

Saudi Arabia: Foreign residents to remain banned from returning until end of COVID-19 crisis June 24 /update 40

20 Jun 04:32 PM UTC —

Saudi Arabia: Curfew to be lifted from June 21 /update 39

15 Jun 01:54 PM UTC —

Saudi Arabia: All international flight operations suspended indefinitely June 15 /update 38

27 May 12:25 PM UTC —

Saudi Arabia: Saudi Arabian Airlines to gradually resume domestic flights from May 31 /update 37

26 May 05:16 PM UTC —

Saudi Arabia: Authorities to gradually remove curfews nationwide between May 28-June 21 /update 36

24 May 11:24 AM UTC —

Saudi Arabia: Over 70,000 cases of COVID-19 confirmed as of May 24 /update 35

13 May 01:51 AM UTC —

Saudi Arabia: Lockdown measures introduced in Baish province (Jazan region) as of May 12 to curb the spread of COVID-19 /update 34

10 May 01:35 PM UTC —

Saudi Arabia: Authorities ease COVID-19 restrictions in several districts of Medina May 9 /update 33

03 May 10:51 AM UTC —

Saudi Arabia: Authorities impose lockdown on industrial area in Dammam May 2 /update 32

29 Apr 09:55 PM UTC —

Saudi Arabia: Saudi government to allow entry into and exit from Qatif province from April 30 /update 31

26 Apr 09:48 AM UTC —

Saudi Arabia: Partial lifting of curfews for Ramadan across Kingdom from April 26 /update 30

22 Apr 09:37 AM UTC —

Saudi Arabia: Curfew hours modified for Ramadan April 21 /update 29

18 Apr 11:10 AM UTC —

Saudi Arabia: Authorities implement 24-hour curfew on two districts in Jizan province April 17 /update 28

16 Apr 01:18 PM UTC —

Saudi Arabia: Authorities isolate Al-Atheer district in Dammam April 15 /update 27

12 Apr 03:38 AM UTC —

Saudi Arabia: Nationwide curfew extended indefinitely April 12 /update 26

10 Apr 02:45 PM UTC —

Saudi Arabia: Several districts of Medina placed on lockdown April 10 due to COVID-19 /update 25

08 Apr 09:29 AM UTC —

Saudi Arabia: Uber temporarily suspends service in several cities April 7 /update 24

07 Apr 01:58 AM UTC —

Saudi Arabia: Authorities impose 24-hour curfews in multiple cities April 6 /update 23

03 Apr 07:23 AM UTC —

Saudi Arabia: Curfew hours revised in Dammam, Taif, and Qatif April 3 /update 22

02 Apr 04:51 PM UTC —

Saudi Arabia: Authorities impose 24-hour curfew in Mecca and Medina April 2 /update 21

29 Mar 02:48 PM UTC —

Saudi Arabia: Authorities impose lockdown on Jeddah March 29 /update 20

25 Mar 02:08 PM UTC —

Saudi Arabia: Government implements new domestic restrictions due to COVID-19 March 25 /update 19

24 Mar 02:54 PM UTC —

Saudi Arabia: Country confirms first COVID-19 death March 24 /update 18

23 Mar 09:55 AM UTC —

Saudi Arabia: Nationwide curfew implemented March 23 /update 17

20 Mar 08:12 AM UTC —

Saudi Arabia: Domestic transportation to be suspended from March 21 /update 16

19 Mar 09:50 AM UTC —

Saudi Arabia: Government confirms 238 COVID-19 cases March 18 /update 15

14 Mar 09:09 AM UTC —

Saudi Arabia: Government suspends all international travel for two weeks starting March 15 /update 14

12 Mar 05:20 AM UTC —

Saudi Arabia: Government suspends travel to the EU and other countries March 12 /update 13

09 Mar 04:29 PM UTC —

Saudi Arabia: Authorities extend travel suspension to five other countries March 9 /update 12

09 Mar 03:29 AM UTC —

Saudi Arabia: Authorities implement travel suspension for nine countries March 9 /update 11

08 Mar 04:45 PM UTC —

Saudi Arabia: Authorities lock down Qatif region amid COVID-19 outbreak March 8 /update 10

05 Mar 02:01 AM UTC —

Saudi Arabia: Government includes Saudi citizens in Mecca travel ban March 4 /update 9

03 Mar 03:56 PM UTC —

Saudi Arabia: New entry restrictions for GCC citizens and residents March 3 /update 8

02 Mar 05:40 PM UTC —

Saudi Arabia: Health Ministry reports first case of COVID-19 in country March 2 /update 7

29 Feb 01:50 AM UTC —

Saudi Arabia: Government bars GCC citizens from entering Mecca and Medina due to COVID-19 February 28 /update 6

28 Feb 10:05 AM UTC —

Saudi Arabia: Government halts visas for tourists from affected countries amid COVID-19 outbreak February 28 /update 5

20 Feb 09:43 AM UTC —

Saudi Arabia: Government advises citizens to avoid non-essential travel to Singapore February 19 /update 3

06 Feb 09:20 AM UTC —

Saudi Arabia: Government suspends travel to China for citizens and residents February 6 /update 2

02 Feb 04:30 PM UTC —

Saudi Arabia: Saudia suspends flights to China February 2 /update 1

23 Jan 09:23 AM UTC —

Saudi Arabia: Temperature screenings implemented for inbound flights from China January 23

Event

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) announced several measures on Thursday, February 27, aimed at preventing the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) to the Kingdom. Officials are temporarily suspending entry to the Kingdom for individuals with tourist visas from countries with confirmed COVID-19 outbreaks according to criteria established by Saudi health authorities. Moreover, MOFA announced the temporary suspension of both the Umrah pilgrimage to Mecca and all visits to Al Masjid an Nabawi in Medina.

Health officials have not confirmed any cases of COVID-19 in the Kingdom as of February 27. However, further international spread of the virus is expected in the coming days and weeks.

Context

The first case of COVID-19 was reported on December 31 and the source of the outbreak has been linked to a wet market in Wuhan (Hubei province, China). Human-to-human and patient-to-medical staff transmission of the virus have been confirmed. Many of the associated fatalities have been due to pneumonia caused by the virus.

Cases of the virus have been confirmed in more than 30 countries and territories worldwide. Virus-screening and quarantining measures are being implemented at airports worldwide, as well as extensive travel restrictions. On February 11, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared that the COVID-19 outbreak is a "very grave threat."

Pneumonia symptoms include dry cough, chest pain, fever, and labored breathing. Pneumonia can be contagious and can be transmitted from human to human. The influenza virus, or the flu, is a common cause of viral pneumonia.

Advice

Potentially impacted travelers are advised to monitor the situation, confirm travel itineraries, and adhere to all instructions issued by local authorities and their home governments.

To reduce the general risk of transmission, travelers are advised to abide the following measures:

Frequently clean hands by using alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water
When coughing and sneezing cover mouth and nose with flexed elbow or tissue - throw tissue away immediately and wash hands
If you have fever, cough, and difficulty breathing seek medical care early and share previous travel history with your health care provider
Adhere to all instructions issued by local authorities and their home governments

In the case that symptoms suggestive of respiratory illness emerge either during or after travel, travelers are encouraged to seek medical attention and share their travel history with their health care provider. Travelers returning from China, South Korea, Italy, and Iran who develop symptoms of pneumonia are advised to call emergency services before going to the doctor or hospital to avoid potential spread of the disease.

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