Officials in Bahrain confirmed on Sunday that the kingdom would indefinitely suspend the entry for travellers arriving from red list countries, namely India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Nepal, on all flights starting Monday, May 24, 2021.
The decision announced by the country’s Civil Aviation Affairs (CAA) ministry was a result of a directive issued by the Government Executive Committee based on the recommendations of the National Medical Taskforce for Combatting Covid-19, the country’s official Bahrain News agency has confirmed.
As a result, Bahraini citizens and residency visa holders from these countries will still be permitted to enter the kingdom, but will have to present an approved Covid-19 PCR test result conducted not more than 48 hours prior to boarding their flight for Bahrain. Upon arrival in the kingdom, these individuals must undertake another PCR test on arrival and on the tenth day of their stay in the country.
These citizens and residency visa holders must quarantine for ten days at their residence or at a licensed quarantine facility approved by the National Health Regulatory Authority.
Vaccinated or non-vaccinated passengers arriving from countries other than the red list, must also present an approved PCR test certificate conducted not more than 48 hours prior to boarding. They too must undertake another PCR test on arrival and on the tenth day of stay, as well as quarantine for a period of ten days in their residence or at a licensed quarantine facility.
However, passengers arriving from countries not included in the red list are exempted from quarantine and PCR test requirements if they are vaccinated and hold a Bahrain issued vaccination certificate or a certificate issued by a country whose vaccination certificate is approved by authorities in Bahrain, or a certificate issued by a country that has reciprocal recognition agreement with Bahrain. For example, the UAE signed a “safe travel corridor” agreement with Bahrain earlier this month.
Also, passengers arriving from countries not included in the red list are exempted from quarantine requirements if they are vaccinated and hold vaccination certificates issued by the US, the UK, a member state of the European Union, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, Japan or Singapore. (Gulf Business)