200 stranded Saudis in Indonesia to be repatriated
Two infected with COVID-19 Delta variant, travel to Indonesia banned
Dubai: Saudi Arabia will bring back 200 Saudi citizens stranded in Indonesia on July 26 and August 1, local media reported.
According to Essam Abed Al Thaqafi, Saudi Ambassador in Indonesia, two repatriation flights will bring back the 200 stranded Saudis. Two among them are infected with COVID-19 Delta variant.
“There are two citizens who are in critical condition after being infected with COVID-19 variant,” he said.
On July 22, Saudi Arabia warned citizens against travelling to Indonesia directly or indirectly as the Asian country is ravaged by the Delta variant of COVID-19. The travel warning comes as Indonesia has become the new coronavirus epicentre in Asia. Indonesia is already on the Kingdom’s red list.
The Saudi interior ministry said that the travel ban is based on the government’s keenness on the safety of its citizens as Indonesia is witnessing a surge in cases of COVID-19 variant.
The ministry called on citizens who are already in Indonesia, to exercise caution, stay away from areas witnessing coronavirus spread, and abide by precautionary measures and return to the Kingdom at the earliest opportunity.