Saudi Arabia has banned travel to or transit at a number of countries including Afghanistan, Argentina, Brazil, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates, among others.
Reports cited interior ministry officials saying some Saudi citizens, who in May were allowed to travel abroad without prior permission from authorities for the first time since March 2020, had violated travel regulations.
Officials say anyone who is proven to be involved, will be subject to legal accountability and heavy penalties upon their return, and will be banned from travel for three years.
The kingdom, the largest Gulf state with a population of some 30 million, on Tuesday recorded 1,379 new Covid-19 infections, bringing its total to 5.2 lakh cases and over 8000 deaths.
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