Jakarta –
Authority Saudi Arabia prohibits its citizens from entering Indonesia due to COVID-19. Epidemiologist from Gadjah Mada University (UGM), Bayu Satria Wiratama explained that the handling of COVID-19 in the country is still good.
“If you are worried, of course not. The trend is still good and there is no concern that it will go up high,” said Bayu when contacted, Monday (23/5/2022).
Bayu said that each country has different considerations in deciding a policy. Bayu suspects that Saudi Arabia is very careful about the health of its citizens.
“For Saudi Arabia, it’s probably because they are very careful about the safety of their citizens, so they are more sensitive about the increase in cases even if it’s just a little,” he continued.
Saudi Arabia Bans Citizens from Going to 16 Countries Including Indonesia
As previously reported, Saudi Arabia has banned its citizens from traveling to 16 countries, including Indonesia. This is related to cases of COVID-19 in these countries.
So said the Directorate General of Passports (Jawazat) Saudi Arabia. Apart from Indonesia, citizens of Saudi Arabia are prohibited from going to Lebanon, Syria, Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan, India, Yemen, Somalia, Ethiopia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Libya, Vietnam, Armenia, Belarus, and Venezuela.
“Citizens of Saudi Arabia are prohibited from traveling to 16 countries due to COVID-19 cases in these countries,” Jawazat said as quoted from the Saudi Gazette, Monday (23/5).
Regarding the requirement that Saudi citizens traveling outside the kingdom, must have received three doses of the COVID-19 vaccine or not past three months after the second dose injection. Children under 16 and 12 years of age are also required to receive two doses of the vaccine.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs: The COVID-19 situation in Indonesia is getting better
The Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Kemlu) acted after Saudi Arabia banned its citizens from traveling to 16 countries, including Indonesia, due to COVID-19. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs conveyed the latest COVID case situation.
“It has been conveyed to the Saudis that the handling of COVID-19 has succeeded in reducing the number of positive cases, and even the conditions in the country are better than the average country in general,” said Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Teuku Faizasyah when confirmed, Monday (23/5).
Faizasyah previously said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was checking information related to the ban with officials in charge of Saudi Arabia. However, until now there has been no response from Saudi Arabia regarding the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ question.
(isa/jbr)
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