Saudi Arabia lifts flight ban on Nigeria, 17 others
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has lifted the ban imposed on Nigerian flights due to the outbreak of Omicron COVID-19 variant.
TheCornet reports that the Kingdom banned Nigeria flights on December 8, 2021.
With the lifting of the ban, Nigerians and other Muslims from countries hitherto affected now have a chance to take part in the 2022 Hajj exercise.
The countries are South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Eswatini, Mozambique, Malawi, Mauritius, Zambia, Madagascar, Mauritius, Zambia, Madagascar, Angola, Seychelles, United Republic of Congo, among others.
Arab News, quoting an official source in the Ministry of Interior, said measures including social distancing and wearing masks outdoors are no longer mandatory in the Kingdom.
The ministry said that social distancing in the Two Holy Mosques and all other mosques in the Kingdom would end, but worshipers still have to wear masks.
Saudi Arabia will no longer require travelers to undergo mandatory COVID-19 quarantine upon arrival in the Kingdom. Passengers will also no longer need to provide a PCR test upon their arrival.
All arrivals in the Kingdom on visit visas of any kind are required to get insurance that covers the costs of treatment from any coronavirus infection.
The ministry stressed the importance of continuing to stick to the guidelines of the national plan for immunization, which includes getting a booster dose and applying procedures to verify health status on the “Tawakkalna” app to enter facilities, activities, events, planes and public transportation.
It explained that the measures taken above were subject to continuous evaluation by the competent health authorities in the Kingdom, according to the developments in the epidemiological situation.
