Riyadh: Saudi Arabia is set to lift the ban on entry linked to a new strain of SARS-CoV-2 on Sunday. According to the SPA news agency, Suadi Arabia will restart international flights and reopen borders from 11:00 a.m. (8:00 GMT) on Sunday. However, Travellers from other countries will have to spend three to seven days in self-isolation and also provide PCR test results.

Earlier, last month the nation announced the halt to international flights and the closure of sea and land border crossings due to a new coronavirus mutation detected in a number of countries. A new strain of SARS-CoV-2, which could be up to 70 per cent more transmissible, was discovered in southeast England in mid-December. Despite many countries having suspended air service with the UK, the new strain is said to have spread across Europe and further afield.

The overall number of global coronavirus cases has topped 84.5 million, while the deaths have surged to more than 1.83 million, according to the Johns Hopkins University. The US is the worst-hit country with the world's highest number of cases and deaths at 20,396,243 and 349,933, respectively, according to the CSSE.

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