Riyadh, Jan 2, 2021, SPA -- An official source at the Ministry of Interior stated that further to the two statements issued on December 20 and 27, 2020 on the spread of a new variant of coronavirus (Covid-19) in a number of countries, and the precautionary measures decided in this regard, and based on what was submitted by the competent health authorities over the precautionary measures taken. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's government decided lifting the precautionary measures related to the spread of a new variant of coronavirus (Covid-19) in a number of countries, regarding the suspension of all international flights for travelers, entry to the Kingdom through its land and sea ports, which have been applied for a week from Dec 20,2020 and extended for another week to be ended Jan 3, 2021 from the morning of tomorrow, Sunday at 11:00 a.m. taking into consideration the following: 1- Entry into the Kingdom for non-citizens coming from the United Kingdom and South Africa, as well as from any other country being specified by the Ministry of Health, in which the new variant of the novel coronavirus (B. 1, 1, 7) is spread, shall be provided that whoever wishes to enter shall spend a period of no less than (14) days outside the country in which the new coronavirus variant (B. 1, 1, 7) is spread before entering the Kingdom, with a (PCR) examination after the expiration of this period, proving that he/she is COVID-19 infection-free. 2- Citizens who are allowed to enter into the Kingdom for humanitarian and urgent cases coming from countries where the new coronavirus variant (B. 1, 1, 7) is spread, shall be quarantined, pursuant to paragraph (1 ) above, in their homes under observance for a period of (14) days, with two (PCR) examinations of the first shall be carried out after arrival within no more than (48) hours and the second before ending the quarantine on the 13th day. As for the countries in which cases of the strain (B. 1, 1, 7) were registered, those coming from them shall be quarantined in their homes under observance for a period of (7) days, with PCR examination, before the end of the quarantine period on the 6th day. Concerning the rest of other countries, the procedures currently followed shall be applied: 7-days mandatory home quarantine as a maximum or 3-days at least, with a mandatory laboratory examination using the (PCR) technology. --SPA 03:10 LOCAL TIME 00:10 GMT 0018 www.spa.gov.sa/w1477575