RIYADH: Bahrain has banned entry from 16 new countries including Tunisia, Iran, Iraq, Mexico, Philippines, South Africa and Indonesia over coronavirus concerns, state news agency BNA reported.
The list also includes Mozambique, Myanmar, Zimbabwe, Mongolia, Namibia, Panama, Malaysia, Uganda, and the Dominican Republic, the country’s civil aviation affairs said on Tuesday.
Bahrain had already suspended entry for travelers from countries on its “Red List” on all flights in May, a list that included India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Vietnam.
The authority said that the entry of travelers from the red list countries will also include those transiting through the kingdom, but has excluded citizens and residents with valid residency visas from the ban.
The National Medical Taskforce for Combatting the Coronavirus (COVID-19) announces the upcoming changes to the Kingdom's alert level#VACCINATEANDSTAYSAFE#TeamBahrain pic.twitter.com/PAZQpnrvjY
— وزارة الصحة | مملكة البحرين (@MOH_Bahrain) July 13, 2021
Bahrain said all previously announced procedures for arrivals from these countries will also remain, which require all travelers aged six years and above, whether they have received the vaccine or not, including the need to present a certified negative PCR test with a QR code 48 hours prior to their flight and performing another test upon arrival.
They must also quarantine for 10 days.
The civil aviation affairs said countries are added or removed from the red list according to an assessment of the national coronavirus medical team, based on the extent of the virus in those countries, adding that the list will be reviewed and updated periodically according to developments.
The kingdom is set to increase the level of health procedures during the Eid Al-Adha holiday from Monday until Thursday.
Bahrain on Tuesday recorded no coronavirus deaths and 76 new cases in the past 24 hours, and confirmed 182 patients had recovered. The total death toll stands at 1,378.
Out of 14481 COVID-19 tests carried out on 13 July 2021, 76 new cases have been detected among 33 expatriate workers, 37 new cases are contacts of active cases, and 6 travel related. There were 182 recoveries from #COVID19, increasing total recoveries to 265013 pic.twitter.com/pkkIP1cAN5
— وزارة الصحة | مملكة البحرين (@MOH_Bahrain) July 13, 2021
