Coronavirus: Saudi Arabia Bans Public Transportation To Prevent Spread

Saudi Arabia says it will suspend all domestic flights, buses, taxis and trains for 14 days amid the coronavirus outbreak, an Interior Ministry official told the official Saudi Press Agency (SPA).

The new measures will go into effect on Saturday and are a part of the Kingdom’s ongoing efforts to fight the spread of the new coronavirus.

Flights associated with humanitarian assistance, medical evacuation aircrafts as well as private flights are excluded under the new measures.

Means of transportation associated with health services, food and water, as well as cargo ships and freights will not be affected, however, precautions and extra health measures will be taken in accordance with the recommendations of the health ministry, SPA reported.

Early Friday morning, Saudi Arabia announced it would halt entry and prayers in the outer courtyards of the two holy mosques in Mecca and Medina.

Saudi Arabia has 274 coronavirus infections as of Friday but no deaths, according to the health ministry. The new coronavirus pandemic has killed nearly 10,000 globally and infected over 240,000.