Riyadh; 27 July 2021 (UMMN): Saudi Arabia is to ban travel to ‘Red List’ countries In an efforts to curb the spread of coronavirus and its new variants, state news agency SPA said on Tuesday.
"The Ministry of Interior stresses that citizens are still banned from travelling directly or via another country to these states or any other that has yet to control the pandemic or where the new strains have spread," the official said.
The so-called ‘red list’ includes India, Afghanistan, UAE, Vietnam, Turkey, South Africa, Argentina, Brazil, Pakistan, and Indonesia.
“Anyone who is proven to be involved will be subject to legal accountability and heavy penalties upon their return and will be banned from travel for three years,” the official said.
On Tuesday, Saudi Arabia recorded 1,379 new COVID-19 infections, bringing its total to 520,774 cases and 8,189 deaths. The infections had fallen from a peak above 4,000 in June 2020 to below the 100 marks in early January.
Nearly 4 million people of Indian origin live in the largest Gulf nation with over 30 million population.
