Arab News, Wednesday, Mar 23, 2022 | Sha'ban 20, 1443
Unvaccinated travelers can enter Saudi Arabia after health ministry updates COVID-19 requirements
Saudi Arabia:
The Saudi health ministry has ended the need for key COVID-19 travel
requirements for those entering the Kingdom.
Travelers arriving in Saudi Arabia no longer have
to show proof of vaccination against COVID-19. They also do not need to take a
PCR test before departure for the Kingdom nor do they need to quarantine when
they arrive.
The ministry announced the changes in a Twitter
post on Monday evening.
The decision was made due to the decrease in the
number of positive COVID-19 cases, now less than four percent. In addition, the
vaccination rate in the Kingdom has reached 99 percent for those 12 years or
older.
On March 5, Saudi Arabia lifted most preventive
measures related to combating the coronavirus pandemic.
The Ministry of Interior removed the need for
masking and social distancing in outdoor spaces.
However, masking is still required in mosques
throughout the Kingdom, including at the Two Holy Mosques in Makkah and Madinah.
On March 6, 2022, Health Ministry spokesman
Mohammed Al-Abd Al-Aly announced the end of COVID-19 periodic press conferences.
“The Kingdom has almost overcome the pandemic
completely, thanks to the expansion in the immunization drive and enhanced
community awareness programs,” Al-Aly said.
On March 4, 2020, Saudi Arabia had decided to
temporarily suspend Umrah for citizens and residents; for fear of the spread of
COVID-19, the authorities had also decided to prevent pilgrims from visiting the
Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah.
In October 2020, Saudi Arabia resumed Umrah after
about seven months of suspension due to the global pandemic.