Saudi Arabia has extended flight and travel bans over coronavirus fears to include the European Union and 12 other countries after announcing 24 new cases overnight to bring its total to 45.
Citizens and residents in the affected jurisdictions have 72 hours to return to the Kingdom, state news agency SPA said early Thursday, citing an official source at the Interior Ministry.
Passenger traffic through all land crossings with Jordan was also suspended, while commercial and cargo traffic is still allowed.
The Kingdom had already banned travel to some 19 countries, including neighbouring Arab states, and said it would impose a fine of up to 500,000 riyals ($133,000) on people who did not disclose health information and travel details at entry points.
Other preventive measures include locking down Qatif region, where many of the virus cases are centred, suspending the Umrah pilgrimage, closing schools and cinemas nationwide, cancelling conferences and sporting events, and postponing a G20 ministerial meeting scheduled for next week.
As well as the EU, the latest decision includes Switzerland, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, the Philippines, Sudan, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Eritrea, Kenya, Djibouti, and Somalia.
The decision excludes health workers in the Kingdom from the Philippines and India as well as evacuation, shipping and trade trips involving necessary precautions, the SPA report said.
Saudi Arabia reported 24 new COVID-19 cases early Thursday, bringing the Kingdom's total to 45 cases, SPA reported, citing the Health Ministry, adding that one patient has recovered.
The 24 new cases include two people who just came back from Iraq, a 12-year-old Saudi child who was in contact with her grandfather who came back from Iran, and 21 Egyptians who had contact with an Egyptian visitor previously reported to have the coronavirus, the news agency reported.
