Saudi Arabia scraps Covid-19 restrictions, including PCR test for arrivals
The new relaxation of Covid-19 rules in the Kingdom comes into force on March 5…
From Saturday March 5, Saudi Arabia will remove all remaining coronavirus restrictions, an official source in the Ministry of Interior has announced.
Travellers will no longer have to show a negative PCR test to travel to Saudi Arabia.
Passengers will also no longer need to undergo Covid-19 quarantine upon arrival in the Kingdom.
رفع الإجراءات الاحترازية والوقائية المتعلقة بمكافحة جائحة كورونا اعتبارًا من اليوم.#وزارة_الداخلية pic.twitter.com/FFyxutaFgK
— وزارة الداخلية (@MOISaudiArabia) March 5, 2022
All arrivals on visit visas must get medical insurance – covering the costs of treatment from coronavirus infection – during the period of stay in Saudi Arabia.
The Kingdom has also relaxed most of the remaining Covid-19 restrictions. Saudi Press Agency reported that other measures, including social distancing and wearing masks outdoors, are no longer mandatory. However, wearing masks indoors is still required.
It will also end social distancing in the Two Holy Mosques and all mosques in the Kingdom, but worshipers still have to wear masks.
The source stressed the importance of continuing to complete the implementation of the national plan for immunisation, which includes taking the booster dose and applying procedures to verify health status in the “Tawakkalna” application to enter facilities, attend events and activities, as well as when taking planes and public transportation.
Saudi Arabia has also lifted the suspension of direct flights and arrival to the Kingdom from the following countries: Afghanistan, Angola, Botswana, Ethiopia, Eswatini, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Seychelles, South Africa, United Republic of Comoros, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
The source explained that the measures taken above are subject to continuous evaluation by the competent health authorities in the Kingdom, according to the developments in the epidemiological situation.
Recently, Saudi Arabia has also announced that it has approved nine Covid-19 vaccines for travelling into the country. Those who have received the required doses of Pfizer, Moderna, Oxford AstraZeneca, Johnson and Johnson, Sinopharm, Sinovac, Covaxin, Sputnik and Covovax can now travel into the Kingdom.
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