Saudis and foreign residents circumambulate (Tawaf) the Kaaba in the Grand Mosque complex in the holy city of Makkah, on October 4, 2020. AFP / BANDAR AL-DANDANI
Doha: Only those immunised against COVID-19 will be allowed to perform the Umrah pilgrimage, starting from the holy month of Ramadan, Saudi authorities said on Monday.
The President General of the Grand Mosque and Prophet's Mosques' Affairs in Saudi Arabia, Sheikh Dr. Abdulrahman bin Abdulaziz Al-Sudais, has stressed that the decision to only allow immunized people who have been vaccinated against COVID-19 into Two Holy Mosques reflects the Saudi Leadership's keenness on the safety of pilgrims and worshippers, Saudi Press Agency reported.
The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah said in a statement yesterday that only immunised persons will be granted permits to perform Umrah as well as prayers in the Grand Mosque in the holy city of Mecca.
“These include individuals who have received two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine, those having received one dose of the vaccine at least 14 days before performing the pilgrimage, or a person who has recovered from the virus, the ministry said,” Al Jazeera reported.
Saudi Arabia has reported more than 393,000 coronavirus infections and over 6,700 deaths from the virus. The kingdom’s health ministry said it has administered more than five million coronavirus vaccines, in a country with a population of over 34 million.
