Saudi Arabia has warned that citizens visiting destinations on its list of countries blacklisted due to Covid-19 will face three-year travel bans following their return, AFP reports.

Those found to have travelled to restricted countries would face “hefty penalties... as well as being prevented from travelling abroad for a period of three years”, the interior ministry said on Twitter.

“Due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and the spread of new variants, the ministry warns against travelling to countries on its (restricted) list, whether directly or indirectly via other countries,” the statement added.