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

Event

Saudi Arabian authorities extended the current ban international flights until at least September 29 due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. The international flight ban also prohibits any international flight operations or flights over the country's airspace. The ban does not apply to flights with authorizations from the Saudi aviation authority, such as repatriation flights, and cargo flights. There is also an exception in cases of emergency landings and technical emergency landings.

Face coverings remain mandatory in public places, while gatherings of over 50 people are prohibited. Cafes, restaurants, and places of worship have reopened.

Additionally, Saudi authorities reopened land borders with the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain, and Kuwait on August 5, as the country continues to gradually ease restrictions. The country's land borders had been closed for travelers since March 7.  

As of Sunday, August 30, there have been 313,911 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Saudi Arabia with 3,840 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 non-essential 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 virus.