Saudi Arabia closed land borders for a week and suspended flights due to the risk of a new strain of coronavirus, first reported in the UK. This was reported by the SPA agency with reference to the country's Interior Ministry.
“The Kingdom's authorities have decided to temporarily suspend all international flights except in emergency cases for one week with the possibility of extending the ban for another week,” the source said. It is also noted that flights that have already arrived will be allowed to leave the country. The bans will not apply to freight transport.
In addition, Saudi Arabia has established a two-week quarantine for those returning from European countries, and those who have traveled abroad in the past three months will need to take a coronavirus test.
The mutated virus has already been found in patients in the Netherlands, Denmark, Australia and Italy. According to experts, while it is impossible to talk about its greater danger and reduced susceptibility to vaccines.
On December 14, UK Health Minister Matthew Hancock announced that a new strain of SARS-CoV-2 has been identified in the country, which is spreading faster than the original form. The virus spreads more easily from person to person and is therefore more contagious, he said.
