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

Saudi Arabia suspends flights to Brazil, India, and Argentina on September 23; follow government directives
Read all related news alert(s):
Saudi Arabia: Authorities to lift some international flight restrictions from September 15 /update 47
Saudi Arabia: International flights remain suspended until further notice September 2 /update 46
Saudi Arabia: Authorities extend international flight ban until September 29 /update 45
Saudi Arabia: Over 300,000 COVID-19 cases reported as of August 18 /update 44
Saudi Arabia: Authorities reopen land borders with UAE, Bahrain, and Kuwait August 5 /update 43
Saudi Arabia: Authorities extend visas for expats outside of the Kingdom until October 27 /update 42
Saudi Arabia: Over 750,000 COVID-19 cases reported as of August 1 /update 41
Saudi Arabia: Foreign residents to remain banned from returning until end of COVID-19 crisis June 24 /update 40
Saudi Arabia: Curfew to be lifted from June 21 /update 39
Saudi Arabia: All international flight operations suspended indefinitely June 15 /update 38
Saudi Arabia: Saudi Arabian Airlines to gradually resume domestic flights from May 31 /update 37
Saudi Arabia: Authorities to gradually remove curfews nationwide between May 28-June 21 /update 36
Saudi Arabia: Over 70,000 cases of COVID-19 confirmed as of May 24 /update 35
Saudi Arabia: Lockdown measures introduced in Baish province (Jazan region) as of May 12 to curb the spread of COVID-19 /update 34
Saudi Arabia: Authorities ease COVID-19 restrictions in several districts of Medina May 9 /update 33
Saudi Arabia: Authorities impose lockdown on industrial area in Dammam May 2 /update 32
Saudi Arabia: Saudi government to allow entry into and exit from Qatif province from April 30 /update 31
Saudi Arabia: Partial lifting of curfews for Ramadan across Kingdom from April 26 /update 30
Saudi Arabia: Curfew hours modified for Ramadan April 21 /update 29
Saudi Arabia: Authorities implement 24-hour curfew on two districts in Jizan province April 17 /update 28
Saudi Arabia: Authorities isolate Al-Atheer district in Dammam April 15 /update 27
Saudi Arabia: Nationwide curfew extended indefinitely April 12 /update 26
Saudi Arabia: Several districts of Medina placed on lockdown April 10 due to COVID-19 /update 25
Saudi Arabia: Uber temporarily suspends service in several cities April 7 /update 24
Saudi Arabia: Authorities impose 24-hour curfews in multiple cities April 6 /update 23
Saudi Arabia: Curfew hours revised in Dammam, Taif, and Qatif April 3 /update 22
Saudi Arabia: Authorities impose 24-hour curfew in Mecca and Medina April 2 /update 21
Saudi Arabia: Authorities impose lockdown on Jeddah March 29 /update 20
Saudi Arabia: Government implements new domestic restrictions due to COVID-19 March 25 /update 19
Saudi Arabia: Country confirms first COVID-19 death March 24 /update 18
Saudi Arabia: Nationwide curfew implemented March 23 /update 17
Saudi Arabia: Domestic transportation to be suspended from March 21 /update 16
Saudi Arabia: Government confirms 238 COVID-19 cases March 18 /update 15
Saudi Arabia: Government suspends all international travel for two weeks starting March 15 /update 14
Saudi Arabia: Government suspends travel to the EU and other countries March 12 /update 13
Saudi Arabia: Authorities extend travel suspension to five other countries March 9 /update 12
Saudi Arabia: Authorities implement travel suspension for nine countries March 9 /update 11
Saudi Arabia: Authorities lock down Qatif region amid COVID-19 outbreak March 8 /update 10
Saudi Arabia: Government includes Saudi citizens in Mecca travel ban March 4 /update 9
Saudi Arabia: New entry restrictions for GCC citizens and residents March 3 /update 8
Saudi Arabia: Health Ministry reports first case of COVID-19 in country March 2 /update 7
Saudi Arabia: Government bars GCC citizens from entering Mecca and Medina due to COVID-19 February 28 /update 6
Saudi Arabia: Government halts visas for tourists from affected countries amid COVID-19 outbreak February 28 /update 5
Saudi Arabia: Government issues new COVID-19 entry restrictions February 27 /update 4
Saudi Arabia: Government advises citizens to avoid non-essential travel to Singapore February 19 /update 3
Saudi Arabia: Government suspends travel to China for citizens and residents February 6 /update 2
Saudi Arabia: Saudia suspends flights to China February 2 /update 1
Event
Saudi authorities have suspended flights to and from Brazil, India, and Argentina on Wednesday, September 23, due to the high rates of infection of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in these countries. Unless travelers have an official government invitation, they will also be denied entry into Saudi Arabia if they have been in those countries within the 14 days prior to their arrival.
Some international flight restrictions were lifted from September 15 allowing citizens of Gulf Cooperation Council countries and those with permanent residency permits or visas to enter the country. In addition to allowing the return of citizens and permanent residents via the country's airports, authorities have also announced that travelers who fall into "exceptional categories" will be permitted to enter the country from September 15, including public sector and military employees, diplomats and their families, patients requiring medical treatment abroad, those studying abroad, individuals working in public or non-profit sector jobs abroad, and sports teams.
Saudi authorities have also allowed the gradual resumption of the Umrah pilgrimage from October 4. Only 30 percent of the usual number of pilgrims will be able to attend, representing around 6000 per day. From October 18, the Grand Mosque will be allowed to fill up to 75 percent capacity, including 40,000 worshipers and 15,000 pilgrims. From November 1, pilgrims from abroad will be allowed to perform the Umrah with full capacity.
The Saudi government originally suspended international flights in March but has been easing some travel restrictions in recent weeks. Authorities have announced that all air, land, and sea travel restrictions will be lifted on January 1, 2021.
As of Thursday, September 24, there have been 331,359 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Saudi Arabia with 4569 associated fatalities. Further international spread of the virus is to be expected in the near term.
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). Since then, human-to-human transmission of the virus has been confirmed.
Cases of the virus have been confirmed in numerous countries and territories worldwide. On March 11, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the global outbreak a pandemic. Virus-screening and quarantining measures are being implemented at airports worldwide, as well as extensive travel restrictions.
The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, dry cough, and tiredness. Some patients may experience other symptoms such as body pains, nasal congestion, headache, conjunctivitis, sore throat, diarrhea, loss of taste or smell or a rash on skin or discoloration of fingers or toes. These symptoms (in most cases mild) appear gradually. Generally, most patients (around 80 percent) recover from the disease without being hospitalized.
Advice
Measures adopted by local authorities evolve quickly and are usually effective immediately. Depending on the evolution of the outbreak in other countries, authorities are likely to modify, at very short notice, the list of countries whose travelers are subject to border control measures or entry restrictions upon their arrival to the territory in question. It is advised to postpone nonessential travel due to the risk that travelers may be refused entry or be subject to quarantine upon their arrival or during their stay.
To reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission, travelers are advised to abide by the following measures:
- Frequently clean hands by applying an alcohol-based hand rub or washing with soap and water.
- When coughing and sneezing, cover mouth and nose with a flexed elbow or tissue; if used, throw the tissue away immediately and wash hands.
- If experiencing a fever, cough, difficulty breathing, or any other symptoms suggestive of respiratory illness, including pneumonia, call emergency services before going to the doctor or hospital to prevent the potential spread of the disease.
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