Saudi Arabia has suspended its international flight operation for a week amid rising concerns over a new strain of Covid-19.

According to details, Saudi Arabia has suspended all international flights along with closure of land and seaport as a new strain of Covid-19 emerged in United Kingdom (UK).

“These procedures will be reviewed in light of the developments related to the pandemic, and what is received from the Ministry of Health,” an official source of Saudi Arabia’s Interior Ministry said in a statement.

The ban has temporarily been imposed for a period of one week but it can be extended for another week.

On the other hand, foreign flights already present in Saudi territory are exempted and will be allowed to leave.

“The ban excludes movement of goods, commodities and supply chains from countries where the mutated virus has not appeared, as determined by the Ministry of Health in coordination with the Ministry of Transport,” the statement added.

Several European nations including Italy, Belgium, Austria, Turkey, Germany and Ireland have begun to impose travel bans on UK after it reported a more-infectious Covid-19 variant.

The ban comes after the British government announced the new faster-spreading strain of the Covid-19 virus and has tightened measures in the country.