RIYADH, March 9 (Xinhua) -- Saudi Arabia banned on Monday its citizens and residents to travel to nine countries as precautionary measures against novel coronavirus.
The countries are the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Bahrain, Lebanon, Syria, South Korea, Egypt, Italy, and Iraq.
The decision also suspends the entry of those coming from those countries, and those who were there during the 14 days prior to their arrival.
Saudi also decided to stop air and sea flights between the kingdom and the mentioned countries, the Interior Ministry highlighted in a statement on the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) on Monday.
The ministry cited the reason was to protect the health of citizens and residents and ensure their safety.
The decision excludes evacuation, shipping and trade trips while taking the necessary precautions. The Ministries of Interior and Health will coordinate to deal with humanitarian and exceptional cases.
Saudi Health Ministry announced on Monday the registration of four new coronavirus cases, SPA reported.
The first case is for a citizen resulted from contact with previously confirmed case in Al-Qatif Governorate, and he is isolated in the hospital in Al-Qatif Governorate.
The second and third cases are for Bahraini women coming from Iraq on their way to Bahrain, and they were isolated in the hospital in Al-Qatif Governorate.
The fourth case is for a U.S. resident returning from travel and passed to the Philippines and Italy before his arrival in Saudi Arabia, and he was transferred to the hospital for isolation in Riyadh.
The total confirmed cases in Saudi are 15.
Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud said in Feb. that China's strong measures have curbed the spread of the virus, and highly appreciated China's sense of responsibility in the prevention and control of the epidemic.
