Coronavirus: Saudi Arabia suspends travel from 50 countries

The Saudi Arabian government has announced the suspension of travel from 50 countries in a bid to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

The country’s ministry of interior disclosed this in a statement on Thursday — after the number of coronavirus cases in the country jumped to 45.

The travel restriction list includes nine countries from the Middle East and North African region, six countries in Asia, seven in Africa, 27 in Europe and a non-European country.

The nine countries from the Middle East and North African region include Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Syria, Turkey, and UAE.

Asian countries including China, India, Pakistan, Philippines, South Korea, Sri Lanka made the list while the seven African countries include Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, and Sudan.

The European countries include Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland (non-EU member).

According to the statement, Saudi citizens and nationals of the countries listed in the ban who have valid residency in the country are given a 72-hour period to return to Saudi Arabia before the travel suspension becomes effective.

It said transportation through all land ports with Jordan has been suspended, except for the passage of passengers considered as “humanitarian cases” and for commercial and cargo traffic.

Saudi Arabia’s ministry of health had said of the 45 people infected by the virus, one has recovered and that the rest are in isolation and receiving health care.

US President Donald Trump earlier announced a suspension of travel from Europe to the US in a bid to fight the spread of coronavirus.

He said the restriction would not apply to US citizens and the United Kingdom but only travellers from the 26 countries in the Schengen border-free travel area.