TheRegister

THE PICTURES THAT MARK THE DAY

Saudi Arabia has received repatriated nationals from Moscow, Munich and Islamabad, as part of its efforts to facilitate the return of its stranded citizens amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Three Saudi Arabian Airlines flights landed at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh. Upon arrival, the passengers were received by officials from the ministries of foreign affairs, tourism and health, as well as the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA). Immediately after their arrival, all health and preventive measures against coronavirus were applied. In addition, GACA ensured that there was no congestion in the terminals, and provided a sanitization area at the gate.

The Ministry of Health has allocated a checkpoint through which all incoming passengers pass through mandatory thermal cameras to ensure their safety.

If a particular passenger is suspected of being infected, he or she is isolated, and a safe path is ensured for his or her transfer. Passengers are required to sanitize their hands before passport control and fingerprinting procedures.

Passengers are divided according to their destination, then directed to buses allocated to them. They are then transported to guesthouses prepared by the Ministry of Tourism and supervised by the Ministry of Health for the quarantine period.

Meanwhile, a Paris-bound flight carrying 196 passengers of different nationalities has departed from King Abdul Aziz International Airport in Jeddah.

The flight is part of Saudi Arabia’s “Awdah (return)” initiative for expatriates wanting to return to their home countries through a dedicated application system.