RIYADH: Saudi Arabia urges Muslims to postpone any plans to perform the Hajj and Umrah before amid uncertainty over the coronavirus pandemic.
“Saudi Arabia is fully prepared to receive pilgrims and umrah.
“But the current situation when we talk about a global pandemic, the government wants to protect the health of Muslims and the people.
“Therefore, we ask Muslims in all countries to wait before performing the pilgrimage until the situation is clear,” Haj and Umrah Minister Mohammed Saleh Benten told Al-Ekhbariya television station in the country.
In addition to postponing the pilgrimage and Umrah, Saudi Arabia also stopped all international flights and blocked entry and exit movements to several cities, including Mecca and Medina.
Earlier last month, Saudi Arabia suspended all pilgrims or pilgrims for the whole year due to concerns over the transmission of COVID-19 to Islamic holy cities.
The cancellation of the Haj season is unprecedented, but measures to limit the presence of high-risk areas have been implemented as the Ebola outbreak hit the area in 2014.
About 2.5 million pilgrims from around the world usually gather in Mecca and Medina for worship scheduled to begin at the end of July.
To date, the Saudi government has reported more than 1,500 cases of COVID-19 with 10 deaths. Globally, more than 825,000 people have been infected with more than 40,000 deaths recorded.
Sources: Al-Riyadh Daily
