RIYADH: Saudi Arabian authorities have updated the COVID-19 guidelines for Umrah, allowing pilgrims to perform Umrah immediately upon arrival if they are immunized with kingdom-approved vaccines.
Saudi Arabia introduces new COVID-19 guidelines for Umrah pilgrims. According to a Gulf media report, Umrah pilgrims who have been immunized with a Saudi-approved vaccine will not be subjected to quarantine upon entering the country.
On Sunday, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) announced that the Ministry of Haj and Umrah had approved the directives. The Saudi Haj ministry outlined the requirements for pilgrims from non-restricted countries seeking an Umrah visa to enter the country.
Those who have been immunized with Saudi-approved vaccines can perform Umrah immediately upon arrival, whereas those who have been immunized with WHO-approved vaccines must undergo a three-day quarantine.
The instructions have been issued by the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) to all airlines operating in the country.
It confirmed that the implementation of these procedures will begin at 01:00 a.m. on Saturday, which corresponds to December 4, 2021.
GACA stated that all carriers should continue to educate passengers on the importance of following all precautionary and preventive measures implemented in Saudi Arabia.
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a contagious disease caused by a virus, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The first known case was identified in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. The disease quickly spread worldwide, resulting in the COVID-19 pandemic.
The symptoms of COVID‑19 are variable but often include fever, cough, headache, fatigue, breathing difficulties, loss of smell, and loss of taste. Symptoms may begin one to fourteen days after exposure to the virus. At least a third of people who are infected do not develop noticeable symptoms.
