Saudi Arabia, in a bid to contain the spread of the pandemic, has suspended the entry of 20 countries including India w.e.f. Wednesday.

 The suspension includes travellers who transitted through the banned countries within 14 days prior to their journey to the country.

As per reports, Saudi Arabia has recorded over 3 lakh covid cases and more than 6 thousand deaths so far. The exception for entry includes diplomats, medical professionals, Saudi citizens and other health practitioners. The families of these people who transitted through the banned countires will enter Saudi Arabia in accordance with the covid protocols imposed by the Health Ministry.

The countires included in the suspension are the UAE, Egypt, the US, Turkey, Lebanon, Sweden, Argentina, Ireland, Italy, Germany, Switzerland, France, Indonesia, Portugal, South Africa, Pakistan, Japan, Britain, Brazil and India.

(media reports)