Saudi Arabia to allow its ‘immune’ citizens to travel

Saudi Arabia will allow its citizens “immuneAgainst the Covid-19 to travel abroad from May 17, announced Sunday, May 2 the Ministry of the Interior, more than a year after the implementation of these restrictions.

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According to the ministry, citizens will be considered “immune»If they have been fully vaccinated, if they have received one of the doses at least 14 days before their trip, or if they have recovered from the virus in the past six months.

Saudis under the age of 18, who do not have access to vaccines, will also be allowed to travel from May 17 if they provide insurance approved by the central bank, according to the ministry statement released by the Agency. Saudi press. The kingdom will also reopen its land, sea and air borders, it is added.

This easing of restrictions is intended to encourage Saudis to get vaccinated. The health ministry said it has administered more than nine million doses of vaccines in the country of more than 34 million people.

Since the start of the pandemic, the country has officially recorded more than 419,000 cases of coronavirus, including nearly 7,000 deaths. Saudi Arabia had only allowed people vaccinated against Covid-19 to perform umrah, the small pilgrimage to Mecca, during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan which began on April 13. It is not clear whether this decision will be extended for the hajj, the great pilgrimage that takes place later in the year.

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