Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah said on Tuesday (Mar 3) it has reacted to 3,109 calls and 1,372 messages since it reported on Feb 27 the transitory suspension of umrah because of the COVID-19.
The vast majority of the calls, 2,750, were in Arabic and 359 were in English, as per the service. 2,001 originated from outside the Kingdom.
Saudi Arabia on Feb 27 briefly suspended passage into the Kingdom with the end goal of umrah or visiting the Prophet’s mosque in Madinah, referring to “proactive preventive measures to forestall the appearance of the new Coronavirus (COVID-19) to the Kingdom and its spread.”
The declaration made would-be travelers and umrah industry partners concerned, and foreseeing misfortunes.
The service said on Mar 1 that it had set up an online office to process discounts of umrah visa expenses and administration charges for influenced would-be explorers and specialists.
Saudi Arabia declared its first instance of the COVID-19 on Mar 2.
مركز خدمات المستفيدين بوزارة الحج والعمرة يستجيب لأكثر من ٣٠٠٠ مكالمة و اكثر من ١٠٠٠ بريد الكتروني من داخل وخارج المملكة منذ تعليق القدوم للعمرة بشكل مؤقت احترازيًا@mohu_csc pic.twitter.com/w8ji1VDWDI
— وزارة الحج والعمرة (@HajMinistry) March 3, 2020
Source: Salaam Gateway