RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AP) – A very small and limited number of others dressed in the symbolic white plush garment of Muslim pilgrimage surrounded Islam’s holiest place in Mecca on Sunday after Saudi Arabia lifted coronavirus restrictions instead for months.
The kingdom had taken the infrequent step of postponing the small “umra” pilgrimage that attracts millions of others throughout the circular year of a circular world in early March when the coronavirus became a global pandemic and led countries to impose closures and curfews to reduce transmission. .
But as nations begin to ease these restrictions, the Saudi government began Sunday to allow up to 6,000 pilgrims a day to enter the expanding Grand Mosque in Mecca. Only Saudi citizens and citizens will be able to enter the mosque in this first phase of reopening, and each user has up to 3 hours to complete the pilgrimage.
The Grand Mosque, which is sterilized and cleaned several times a day, houses the cube-shaped Kaaba to which practicing Muslims pray five times a day.
Before visitors can enter the mosque to pray or perform the Umra, they must electronically request and book an express date and time through an online application to avoid overcrowding and maintain social distance. application.
State television showed on Sunday what gave the impression of being less than 50 more people circling around the Kaaba at the same time and walking several meters away. day and night.
The moment phase of easing restrictions on the Grand Mosque takes effect on 18 October, allowing a maximum of 15,000 pilgrims and 40,000 for prayer between citizens depending on the hours assigned to the application.
Muslim travelers from outside Saudi Arabia may be allowed to make a pilgrimage to Omra on 1 November, the Interior Ministry said. Saudi Arabia recently began to loosen some restrictions on foreign flights for the first time since March.
The kingdom organized a very small Hajj symbolic pilgrimage in July, fearing that it would not be a global opportunity to super-spread the virus. Pilgrims decided after applying through an online portal and were all citizens of Saudi Arabia. the more than 2 million pilgrims the kingdom hosts for the annual occasion, only 1000 participated after being examined for the virus and quarantined.
Despite taking early and radical steps to involve the virus, Saudi Arabia has recorded approximately 336,000 cases, totaling 4,850 deaths.