Saudi Arabia announced on Monday that it will hold the annual Hajj pilgrimage this year with “very limited numbers for those willing to perform it from all nationalities living inside the Kingdom” due to the ongoing coronavirus outbreak.
The Hajj Ministry said that it has taken its decision based on the recommendations of the Health Ministry and given that the pandemic was still a threat and vaccine or cure has yet to be found, reported the Saudi Press Agency.
The decision stems from the authorities’ keenness on preserving global health security, it added, citing the danger of the spread of the virus in mass gatherings where social distancing measures would be difficult to enforce.
With a very limited number of pilgrims taking part in this year’s Hajj, continued the ministry, the necessary preventive and social distancing measures may be respected to protect worshippers from the virus.
