Saudi Arabia calls on incoming travelers to declare if they visited China in previous 15 days

Saudi Arabia's General Directorate of Passports called on all passengers to declare if they have ben to China in the last 15 days. (File/Reuters)

• The step comes within the approved health procedures to prevent the spread of coronavirus
• The measures include activating respiratory screening stations at health care facilities' entrances

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia called on all travelers coming into the Kingdom, via air, land and sea, to disclose to passport officials whether they have visited China within 15 days of their arrival.
The General Directorate of Passports confirmed that this step comes within the approved health procedures to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus, and that it is binding on all passengers arriving in Saudi Arabia.
The Saudi Ministry of Health, in cooperation with the National Center for Disease Prevention and Control, previously set a number of strict precautionary and preventive measures to avert the possibility of the virus entering Saudi Arabia in a guide that was circulated to health facilities.
These measures included activating respiratory screening stations at the entrances of health care facilities, to ensure the early detection of people with acute respiratory disease, and the application of contact and spray precautions when dealing with any “suspected or confirmed” case.
The Ministry of Health also obligated health outlets at entry points to visually screen travelers arriving “directly or indirectly” from China, and to refer suspected cases immediately to the relevant Public Health Department in the region to take necessary measures.