Saudi Arabia lifts most precautionary Covid-19 curbs
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, March 7, 2022
Saudi Arabia has lifted precautionary and preventive measures to combat the coronavirus pandemic, including social distancing and wearing masks outdoors, and allowed all passengers to enter the Kingdom without the need for negative PCR tests or rapid antigen tests.
Passengers arriving in the Kingdom are no longer requested to abide by institutional and home quarantine to combat the pandemic, reported Bahrain News Agency (BNA), citing an official source in Saudi Arabi’s Ministry of Interior.
Passengers arriving in Saudi Arabia on visit visas are requested to have medical insurance to cover the costs of treatment from infection with the coronavirus during their stay in the Kingdom.
The source also announced the lifting of the suspension of direct arrival to the Kingdom and of all flights coming to and departing from the Kingdom to South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Eswatini, Mozambique, Malawi, Mauritius, Zambia, Madagascar, Angola, Seychelles, Comoros, Nigeria, Ethiopia, and Afghanistan.
The source said that social distancing measures in the Grand Mosque in Makkah, the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah, and all mosques were no longer mandatory. However, worshippers will continue to wear facemasks.
Masks are also required in all closed facilities, reported Saudi Press Agency (SPA), quoting the source.
The source stressed the importance of taking the booster dose, and of verifying the health status on the “Tawakkalna” application to enter facilities, for activities and events, boarding planes, and using public transportation.
The measures will be regularly assessed by the competent health authorities in the Kingdom according to the developments in the epidemiological situation.