Saudi says inbound visitors must reveal China travel history prior to arrival

Saudi Arabia has urged inbound visitors to share their China travel history prior to arrival to the kingdom.

The General Directorate of Passports in Saudi Arabia called on all inbound travellers via all channels – land, sea and airports – to disclose if they travelled to China during the 15 days prior to their arrival, Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.

The directorate confirmed that the move is aligned with accredited health procedures to contain the spread of the new coronavirus.

It further confirmed that these procedures were required for all visitors to the kingdom.

Post the outbreak, Saudi Arabia’s embassy in China confirmed that it was evacuating all its nationals from Wuhan.

Read more: Saudi evacuating its citizens from Wuhan as coronavirus spreads across China

The new coronavirus has claimed at least 490 lives so far, with 24,324 confirmed and 3,219 severe cases in China.

In the UAE, five cases of coronavirus were confirmed since the outbreak, the first four being members of a Chinese family that had reportedly flown into the UAE on January 16.

The fifth case of an individual, who had also flown into the country from the Chinese city of Wuhan – the epicentre of the virus, and Hubei’s capital – was confirmed on February 1.

Read more: UAE reports 5th case of coronavirus; Etihad airways suspends Beijing-Nagoya flight

The UAE’s Ministry of Education issued new guidelines for educational institutions across the country.  Any student, staff or associated family member who has flown in from China in the past 14 days, is to be exempted from school.

Also read: UAE ministry issues new guidelines for schools on coronavirus

Meanwhile, the Bahraini Ministry of Health refuted reported claims of coronavirus in the kingdom, urging the public to glean information from official sources, official news agency WAM reported.

With inputs from Bloomberg