In order to prevent the influx of pilgrims in the holy city of Mecca from exacerbating the outbreak of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), Saudi Arabian authorities said today that only immunized pilgrims will be allowed to participate in the event.
The Saudi Ministry of Hajj & Umrah issued a statement stating that those who fall into one of the following three categories are eligible for “immunity”: those who have received two doses of vaccine; those who have received at least one dose of vaccine 14 days ago; and those who have recovered from the disease.
Only these people are eligible to perform Hajj in Umrah and to attend the prayers at the Grand Mosque in the holy city of Mecca.
A statement issued by the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah said that this policy will effectively boost the energy of the Grand Mosque during the month of Ramadan, and the same norm applies to entering the Prophet’s Mosque in the holy city of Medina.
The Ministry of Hajj and Deputy Hajj noted that the policy of Hajj in response to the epidemic was implemented from the month of Ramadan, but it is not clear how long it will last. The annual fasting month began on April 13.
It has not been determined whether this policy will continue for the annual Hajj pilgrimage later this year. The policy comes at a time when there has been a sharp increase in the number of cases of the disease in the country.
Saudi Arabia has reported more than 393,000 cumulative confirmed cases and more than 6,700 cumulative deaths from the disease.
Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Health noted that the country, with a total population of more than 34 million, has administered more than 5 million doses of vaccine.
Recent Comments