Saudi leadership's strong and firm steps help preserve public health

When voices rise in the midst of crisis, so does the need for words of wisdom. The world seeks capable and trusted hands that can make the decisions we need need to guarantee our future, avoid the mistakes of the past, and point us toward the light at the end of the tunnel.
The planet is facing a crisis. We are on the brink of a pandemic that is spreading by air and sea with no regard for borders, invading countries that have previously battled with other forms of instability. This new health threat has emerged and grown as others  have throughout history: at the crossroads of expansion and free movement, which create the perfect conditions for it to spread. But the wisdom and balanced decision making that can steer us all through such difficult times are also a feature of our shared history.
When the crisis caused by the outbreak of the MERS (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome-related) coronavirus began in 2012, health agencies in the Kingdom and around the world worked with other state authorities to develop the regulatory measures and health procedures required to quarantine and treat those infected with the virus, and help prevent its spread and recurrence.

The decision to suspend entry to the Kingdom for Umrah pilgrims, for example, stems from a rational responsibility felt by my leaders and my country toward the Muslims of the world and their safety.

Naif bin Marzouq Al-Fahadi

Such stringent controls, developed to deal with a specific looming global health crisis, are now routinely used to guard against the continuous risk of future health threats. Permanent preventative and precautionary measures are in place to deal with potential or emerging threats to public health, as evidenced by the response of authorities in the Kingdom to the current coronavirus crisis.
I am proud of the strong and firm steps the Saudi leadership has taken to help preserve public health in the Kingdom and beyond, and to prevent or alleviate suffering by reducing the risk of infection. The decision to suspend entry to the Kingdom for Umrah pilgrims, for example, stems from a rational responsibility felt by my leaders and my country toward the Muslims of the world and their safety.
In addition, Saudi medical and relief teams are working with colleagues around the world, and with international institutions and organizations, as part of the Kingdom’s contribution to the efforts to control the pandemic.
This crisis will pass, guided by wisdom, knowledge and firm guiding hands. Lessons will be learned and used to develop the tools needed to monitor future threats, raise awareness of the risks, improve the response to similar crises, and develop improved treatments. These are all valuable tools for the future of my great homeland, its citizens, its allies and for the good of all mankind around the world.

• Naif bin Marzouq Al-Fahadi is Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to Japan