Saudi Arabia Implements New Entry Rules For Travelers, Mandatory Rapid Antigen Test Upon Arrival

Ilustrasi Prince Mohammad bin Abdulaziz International Airport Arab Saudi. (Wikimedia Commons/Abdulhadi Basit)

JAKARTA - A new COVID-19 testing procedure went into effect in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, requiring travelers to take a rapid antigen test upon arrival. In addition to migrants, the general authority for civil aviation has also updated the rules for those who will leave Saudi Arabia.

Both nationals and foreign nationals must have the results of an approved PCR test or rapid antigen test, with samples collected within 48 hours of the date of departure, regardless of vaccination status.

Children under the age of 8 are excluded from testing, although home country regulations regarding COVID-19 testing procedures for children must be taken into account.

The measures, which came into effect on Wednesday 9 February at 01.00 local times, include nationals having to receive the COVID-19 vaccine before leaving the kingdom.

The third dose can be obtained three months after the second dose. Meanwhile, those under the age of 16 are exempt, including those who hold "excluded" status on the Tawakkalna app.

Citizens who test positive but have received a complete COVID-19 vaccination using a Kingdom-approved vaccine, are allowed in after seven days of the positive test date, without the need for re-examination.

Meanwhile, those who did not complete the fully approved vaccine dose and are positive for COVID-19 can re-enter the Kingdom after 10 days from the date of the positive test.

Infectious disease consultant and Head of Department of Internal Medicine at King Fahad Hospital in Jeddah, Dr. Wail Bajhmom, explained the antigen test is a test to quickly diagnose the presence of Coronavirus particles.

"In other words, this is a test that looks for the presence of Coronavirus particles in samples used from subjects, is used commercially as a rapid antigen test, and follows simple facts. In the case of COVID-19, there will be a reaction between the virus (antigen), and the compound. in the kit and showed positive results", he told Arab News as quoted on February 9.

"The test will certainly show a negative result if there is no reaction which means there is no virus. This method called rapid antigen test is a well-known method for detecting viruses and other infections quickly", he added.

He highlighted that PCR is a more detailed and specific test, and can detect the presence of the Coronavirus in samples even in minimal quantities.