Saudi Arabia has imposed travel ban on 20 countries as a way to curtail the spread of COVID-19 in the country.

Official Saudi Press Agency revealed that the country’s interior ministry announced that the “temporary suspension” would be effective from 9.00 pm (1800 GMT) on Wednesday.

The travel ban applies to neighbouring Egypt and the United Arab Emirates, and in the wider region, to Lebanon and Turkey but excludes Nigeria.

In Europe, the ban includes Britain, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Portugal, Sweden and Switzerland, other countries like the US, Argentina, Brazil, Pakistan, India, Indonesia, Japan, Pakistan and South Africa are inclusive.

Saudi citizens, as well as diplomats and health workers coming from those countries, will be allowed to enter the kingdom “in accordance with the precautionary measures”, it added.

The announcement comes after Saudi’s health minister Tawfiq al-Rabiah warned on Sunday that new coronavirus restrictions could be imposed if citizens and residents do not comply with health restrictions.

The country has reported more than 368,000 coronavirus cases and nearly 6,400 deaths, the highest among Gulf Arab states.

Saudi Arabia launched its coronavirus vaccination campaign on December 17 after receiving the first shipment of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.

The health ministry said the programme would roll out in three phases, starting with people over 65 and those with chronic ailments, or who are at high risk of infection.

But last month the ministry said it was forced to slow the rollout due to a delay in vaccine deliveries