Traffic on Bahrain's King Fahad Causeway reopens

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MANAMA: Passenger traffic on King Fahad Causeway resumed yesterday at 11am, the King Fahad Causeway Authority has announced.

The 25km-long bridge, one of the busiest land border crossings in the Middle East, was shut on March 7 as part of measures to fight the spread of Covid-19.

The reopening, expected on January 1, was delayed following a Saudi decision to impose new travel restrictions related to the spread of a new variant of the coronavirus.

Passenger traffic resumed yesterday after a decision to lift these curbs, a Saudi Interior Ministry official said in a statement.

As reported in the GDN, Bahrain’s beleaguered hospitality sector has been anxiously waiting for the full reopening of the causeway so the Saudi visitors can return once again.

The sector got a brief lifeline and was able to breathe a sigh of relief thanks to the Formula One roadshow racing into the kingdom.

Riyadh suspended international flights and access through land crossings and ports on December 21.

Travellers returning from Britain, South Africa or any country where the new variant is spreading are subject to more restrictions, said the statement.

Foreigners coming from these countries must spend 14 days in another country before entering Saudi Arabia, and show a negative test.

Passengers travelling to Bahrain via the causeway must take a coronavirus lab test before arriving in the kingdom at a Bahraini or Saudi laboratory licensed by Bahrain and the test result will be valid for 72 hours, or undergo a PCR test at their own expense upon arrival at a cost of BD40. Pre-payment is possible through BeAware app or e-Government portal.

Passengers subjected to a laboratory test arriving in Bahrain must commit to self-isolation until the test result is issued. Passengers wishing to stay in Bahrain for 10 days or more must undergo the test on the 10th day of arriving in the kingdom at the drive-through testing centre at the Bahrain International Exhibition & Convention Centre. The second test doesn’t imply any additional charges.

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