JEDDAH: Saudi citizens have been banned from traveling to Indonesia over coronavirus disease (COVID-19) concerns, the Saudi Interior Ministry announced on Wednesday
An official source at the ministry said that the move was taken to ensure citizens’ safety due to a surge in COVID-19 cases exacerbated by the delta variant.
The restrictions will continue until the situation is stabilized, the source added.
Saudi citizens currently in Indonesia have been told to exercise caution, stay away from areas with high infection rates, maintain all precautionary measures and return to the Kingdom at the earliest opportunity.
Currently, pilgrims participating in this year’s Hajj rituals are completing their final steps under strict health measures with no reported COVID-19 infections.
Meanwhile, the Saudi Ministry of Health has continued to administer COVID-19 vaccines during the Eid Holiday at vaccination centers, as part of the community immunization campaign.
Over 23.3 million doses have been administered across the Kingdom, with more than 1.4 million elderly citizens or residents being inoculated against COVID-19.
HIGHLIGHT
As of Aug. 1, only fully vaccinated people will be allowed to enter public spaces in Saudi Arabia, including malls, restaurants, shops and markets.
On Wednesday, the Health Ministry reported 1,142 confirmed cases, with 10,905 of the cases remaining active and 1,374 in a critical condition. The latest cases bring the overall number of infections to 513,284.
The Riyadh region reported the highest number of cases with 302, followed by Makkah with 188, the Eastern Province with 176 and Asir region with 143.
In addition, 1,024 patients had recovered from the disease, bringing the total number of recoveries in the Kingdom to 494,264.
The ministry also reported 12 more COVID-19-related deaths. The death toll now stands at 8,115.
Saudi Arabia so far has conducted over 24 million polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests, with over 86,000 carried out in the past 24 hours.
Testing hubs and treatment centers set up throughout the country have dealt with hundreds of thousands of people since the outbreak of the pandemic.
Among them, Taakad (make sure) centers provide COVID-19 testing for those who show no or only mild symptoms or believe they have come into contact with an infected individual. Tetamman (rest assured) clinics offer treatment and advice to those with virus symptoms such as fever, loss of taste and smell, and breathing difficulties.
Appointments for both services can be made via the ministry’s Sehhaty app.
The Ministry of Health called on citizens and expats in the Kingdom to take the vaccine available at vaccination centers across the country in order to preserve the health and safety of all members of society.
As of Aug. 1, only fully vaccinated people will be allowed to enter public spaces in Saudi Arabia, including malls, restaurants, shops and markets.
Visitors to these public places will need to show proof of vaccination upon entrance, according to the Saudi Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs.
The Health Ministry continues to call on all people to adhere to precautionary measures to limit the spread of the virus in light of the global spread of the new delta variant.
