Saudi Arabia asks citizens to declare Iran visits over coronavirus concerns

Iran has one of the largest number of deaths because of COVID-19 outbreak outside China – 124 up until Friday

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia on Friday called on citizens to declare visits to Iran in the past 14 days, as part of measures to contain the coronavirus outbreak, according to a statement by the kingdom's civil aviation authority.

Members of the kingdom's Shia minority tend to keep their visits to Iran secret as a bitter rivalry opposes the two countries. Sunni-led Saudi Arabia cut diplomatic relations with Iran in January 2016.

"If you were in Iran in the past 14 days, take the initiative and declare it; protect your health and the health of your family," said the Saudi civil aviation authority tweet.

Iran has reported one of the largest number of deaths because of the coronavirus outbreak outside China – 124 up until Friday.

Saudi Arabia empties Khana-e-Kaaba for 'sterilisation' amid coronavirus fear

Meanwhile, the Saudi authorities have reopened two of the most holy religious sites in Islam, Al-Haram Mosque in Makkah and Al-Masjid al Nabawy in Madina, after they were closed for sterilisation to halt the spread of the new coronavirus, state TV Al-Ekhbariya reported earlier in the day.

The kingdom closed the sites to foreign pilgrims and traditional tourists from some 25 countries to stop the spread of the virus. It also said that citizens and residents of Gulf Cooperation Council countries wishing to enter must wait 14 days after returning from outside the region.

Saudi Arabia has reported five cases of the coronavirus. It was not clear from the Al-Ekhbariya report if pilgrims would be allowed to return to the sites.