Saudi gov’t includes PH in travel ban in view of COVID-19

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MANILA, Philippines — The government of Saudi Arabia has imposed a travel ban on 12 more countries, including the Philippines amid the outbreak of 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

In an advisory dated March 12, the Philippine Consulate General in Jeddah advised the Filipino community on the travel suspension, which has a 72-hour window effect for citizens of Saudi Arabia and valid residents from countries affected by the travel restrictions.

“The travel suspension gives a 72-hour window effect or three days starting from 00:29 hours March 12 for Saudi citizens and those with valid residency from countries covered by the ban to return to or exit from the Kingdom before the travel suspension takes effect,” Consul General Edgar Badajos wrote in the advisory.

Exempted from the travel restriction are “health workers returning to Saudi Arabia from the Philippines and India and evacuation shipping and trade trips.”

Health workers who will return to Saudi Arabia will undertake medical evaluation, Badajos said.

Transportation through all land borders with Jordan is also suspended except for commercial and cargo traffic, Badajos added.

The World Health Organization has considered the COVID-19 outbreak a pandemic and issued a warning that the global spread of the illness was because of alarming levels of inaction.

The disease has infected more than 124,000 people and killed 4,500 individuals globally. The fatalities increased in Iran and Italy, according to Agence France-Presse.

Edited by JPV