Covid Vaccination Becomes Mandatory to Enter Govt, Private Facilities in Saudi Arabia

Gulf

August 1st, 7:26am

Riyadh - Asharq Al-Awsat

A coronavirus vaccination center in Saudi Arabia. (SPA)

Saudi authorities are stepping up monitoring measures to prevent violators of Covid restrictions from endangering public health as the Kingdom reopens borders to fully vaccinated international tourists and moves to apply the decision to make coronavirus immunization mandatory to enter government and private places. The Commerce and Investment Ministry has vowed to tighten its controls, allowing only vaccinated individuals to enter all commercial establishments, markets and malls, as well as the ministry’s headquarters, offices and work centers. All shoppers must fulfill the terms and conditions issued earlier in this regard. These conditions include receiving one or two doses of the coronavirus vaccine or being immune by recovery from a coronavirus infection. There will be an exemption for some categories of people based on their age and health condition, the ministry said. Moreover, the Ministry of Interior stressed that only people vaccinated against the coronavirus would be allowed to enter any government or private establishment or commercial facilities across the Kingdom. It emphasized the need for all citizens and residents to adhere to precautionary and preventive measures, such as social distancing, wearing masks, disinfecting hands continuously and other approved protocols. The ministry explained that vaccination is mandatory for entry to all economic, commercial, cultural, entertainment, or sporting events. Immunization is also needed for access to all governmental or private establishments and educational facilities and the use of public transportation. According to the ministry, the Tawakkalna application, the country’s award-winning track and trace app, will be used to check the immunization status of citizens and residents. More than 26 million people in Saudi Arabia have now received a coronavirus vaccine, said the Saudi Ministry of Health. However, the ministry repeated its message that a second vaccine dose is necessary to achieve the highest immunity levels, especially amid the emergence of the Delta variant.

from Asharq AL-awsat https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/3109256/covid-vaccination-becomes-mandatory-enter-govt-private-facilities-saudi-arabia