Saudi Arabia has suspended the issuance of visa to pilgrims
wishing to perform Umrah (lesser hajj) over fears of coronavirus.
The foreign ministry made the announcement on Thursday via a
tweet.
Umrah is a pilgrimage performed by Muslims at any time of
the year.
The country also suspended the issuance of tourist visa to
residents of countries where the virus is a “danger”.
The foreign ministry cautioned its citizens against
travelling to countries where the disease is on the spread.
The ministry wrote: “In completion of the efforts taken to
provide the utmost protection to the safety of citizens and residents and
everyone who intends to come to the territory of the Kingdom to perform Umrah
or visit the Prophet’s Mosque or for the purpose of tourism and based on the
recommendations of the competent health authorities to apply the highest
precautionary standards, and take proactive preventive measures to prevent the
arrival of the new Coronavirus (COVID-19) to the Kingdom and its spread, the
Kingdom’s government has decided to take the following precautions:
“Suspending entry to the Kingdom for the purpose of Umrah
and visiting the Prophet’s Mosque temporarily.
“Suspending entry into the Kingdom with tourist visas for
those coming from countries in which the spread of the new Coronavirus
(COVlD-19) is a danger, according to the criteria determined by the competent
health authorities in the Kingdom.
“Suspending the use by Saudi nationals and citizens of Gulf
Cooperation Council states of the national identity card to travel to and from
the Kingdom, except for Saudis who are abroad if their exit from the Kingdom is
with the national identity card, and citizens of the Gulf Cooperation Council
countries currently inside the Kingdom, and wish to return from it to their
countries, in case that their entry was with the national identity card, in
order for the concerned authorities at the entry points to verify from which
countries visitors came before their arrival to the kingdom, and apply health
precautions to deal with those coming from those countries.
“The Kingdom affirms that these procedures are temporary,
and is subject to continuous evaluation by the competent authorities.
“The Foreign Ministry calls on citizens not to travel to
countries where the new Coronavirus (COViD-19) is spreading.”
#Statement | Proactive Preventive Measures to Prevent the Arrival of the New Coronavirus (#COVID19) to the Kingdom pic.twitter.com/fuBAWq19Du— Foreign Ministry 🇸🇦 (@KSAmofaEN) February 26, 2020
Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everydayWe ask God Almighty to spare all humanity from all harm#CoronaVirus#COVID19 pic.twitter.com/TEYvIW1Wbd— Foreign Ministry 🇸🇦 (@KSAmofaEN) February 26, 2020
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