Kuwait among 9 suspended for ‘travel’ to Saudi Arabia
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RIYADH, March 9, (Agencies): The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia suspended Sunday travel to nine countries, including Kuwait, and banned the entry of arrivals from those countries due to the coronavirus outbreak.
The Saudi Press Agency (SPA) quoted an official source in the Saudi Ministry of Interior as saying that the Kingdom’s government decided to temporarily suspend travel of citizens and residents to Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Lebanon, Syria, Korea, Egypt, Italy and Iraq. The source added that the Saudi government also suspended entry to those coming from those countries or entry of those who were there during the 14 days before their arrival to the Kingdom, the source added.
Furthermore, the Kingdom decided to stop air and ship traffic with those countries, except for evacuation, trade and shipping purposes provided that necessary precautions are taken, the source said. The source pointed out that the Ministry of Interior and Health will coordinate in dealing with humanitarian and exceptional cases.
This move was taken in accordance with the preventive and precautionary measures recommended by the competent health authorities in the Kingdom as part of the efforts to control the virus and prevent its spread as well as to protect the health of citizens and residents, the source argued.
The source explained that this follows the decision of the Saudi government to temporarily limit entry to its lands for those coming from the State of Kuwait, the UAE and Bahrain to airports only.
The Saudi Ministry of Education has ordered closure of all public and private schools and universities as of Monday until further notice due to the coronavirus outbreak.
In a press statement on Sunday, the ministry clarified that this is a precautionary measure taken upon a request from health authorities in the Kingdom to help stop the spread of the virus.
Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud announced providing financial support worth $10 million for the World Health Organization (WHO) to fight the novel coronavirus. The initiative came as a response to an urgent appeal issued by WHO for international cooperation in preventing further spread of the virus and supporting countries with vulnerable health infrastructures, SPA said on Monday.
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