The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has suspended international flights for a week over a new strain of COVID-19 and could be extended by another week “until medical information about the nature of this virus becomes clear”.
According to the Saudi press agency, the government also ordered the closure of land and seaports for a week and directed all those who returned from or passed through a European country over the past three months to get tested for COVID-19 immediately.
The Kingdom however said travel suspension will not affect the country’s cargo flights and supply chains.
This development comes after Matt Hancock, health secretary of the United Kingdom, warned that the new strain of the coronavirus is “out of control”.
Many countries have recorded a surge in COVID-19 cases, a development which has been described as the second wave of the infection.
Globally, over 77 million COVID-19 cases have been recorded out of which more than 1.7 million infected patients have died.
By Abel Ejikeme