Saudi extends travel bans to 14 countries, including Oman, European nations

In the immediate aftermath of Saudi Arabia suspending travel to and from nine countries including the UAE, the kingdom announced an additional moratorium on travel to and from Oman, France, Germany, Turkey and Spain.

The suspension also extends to those who were present in the aforementioned countries during the 14 days prior to their arrival to the kingdom, Saudi Press Agency reported.

“The kingdom’s government decided to suspend temporarily the travel of citizens and expatriates to Oman, France, Germany, Turkey and Spain, as well as suspending the entry of those coming from those countries, and those who were there during the 14 days prior to their arrival,” a statement on SPA read.

The kingdom has also halted air and sea flights between the kingdom and the designated countries.

The directive, however, excludes evacuation, shipping and trade trips while taking the necessary precautions, the statement said.

The Ministries of Interior and Health may coordinate to deal with humanitarian and exceptional cases.

These five countries form part of a set of nations on which travel bans were imposed by the kingdom, in sign of measures taken to curb the spread of the contagion. Previous countries on which bans were imposed include the UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Lebanon, Italy, South Korea and Syria.

Read more: Saudi Arabia bans travel to UAE, eight other countries

Of the 20 coronavirus cases, the kingdom confirmed its first Covid-19 infection in Makkah on Monday.

Read: Coronavirus update: GCC cases cross 260 as virus spreads