Faris Al-Rushud Riyadh

A Saudi student evacuated from Japan amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak has vowed to continue his studies after completing quarantine back home in the Kingdom.

Speaking about his experience to Arab News Japan, Hossam Al-Ahmadi said he would carry on with his master’s degree at Tokai University in Tokyo by undertaking next semester’s education online from Riyadh.

The 24-year-old said he was “happy” to take the chance to return to Saudi Arabia on a Saudia airlines repatriation flight from Japan after the Japanese government declared a state of emergency in the country over the health crisis.

“I received an email from the embassy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia stating the date of arrival and departure of the evacuation plane. Citizens gathered in one of the hotels in Tokyo, in preparation to leave from Narita International Airport,” Al-Ahmadi said.

He added that despite Japan’s developed healthcare system, the increase of COVID-19 cases and the imposition of precautionary restrictions in all parts of the country sparked fears of a further deterioration of the situation.

On arrival in the Kingdom, Al-Ahmadi and his fellow passengers were bussed directly to hotels in Riyadh in order to complete their mandatory 14-day quarantine period.

“We had great care from the employees at the Saudi Ministry of Health. We were hosted in a five-star hotel in Riyadh. All services were free throughout the stay, such as the meals and the laundry service,” he added.

He said that a specialized doctor visited him on a daily basis to conduct medical examinations as a precautionary measure against the virus.

“The quarantine period coincided with the days of the blessed month of Ramadan, so I used to wake up around 11 a.m. every day. I watched the news on TV then read the Holy Qur’an and other books provided in the hotel rooms.”

On the 11th day of the quarantine period, all the arrivals from Japan underwent a medical test and all their results were negative, Al-Ahmadi said. They were allowed to leave the hotel and return to their homes, while spending the remaining three days self-isolating from family members in their homes.