New COVID-19 strain: Saudi Arabia extends ban on international flights by another week

Saudi Arabia has confirmed ban on all international flights will continue for ar week but has said that airlines will be allowed to fly out n-Saudi nationals. Saudi's civil aviation ncy said ban that h been imposed on international travel due to new strain of COVID-19 virus discovered in United Kingdom, will continue for seven more days. Saudi Arabia h banned all international flights as well as entry in Kingdom through seaports for a week on December 21. 

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General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA), Saudi Arabia's national aviation body, said on Sunday that ban on international flights and entering Kingdom through land and seaports has been extended by ar week. body also allowed airlines to operate and carry n-Saudi nationals out of Kingdom starting from Sunday. repatriation of n-Saudi nationals will be carried out with full compliance with controls and precautionary measures, said ncy in a statement. 

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Saudi Arabia h imposed a ban on all international flights after discovery of new strain of COVID-19 virus in UK. Several countries h gone for a more holistic approach as y only banned flights to and from United Kingdom and also from a few or nations where new variant of virus h been found, including South Africa and Nigeria. 

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New COVID-19 strain

Prime Minister Boris Johnson anunced discovery of new strain of virus on December 2 and also imposed a stricter Tier-4 lockdown in some parts of south-east England, where new variant was frequently being detected. Scientists warned that new strain spres faster and are currently conducting studies to find out more about variant. It remains unclear, how new strain affects COVID-19 vaccines and treatment but drug manufacturers have assured that virus has t evolved eugh to beat vaccines yet. 

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