RIYADH | SAUDI ARABIA – Saudi Arabia will enforce several health measures and protocols for Muslims who will be performing the upcoming Hajj Pilgrimage in an effort to prevent the deadly coronavirus from spreading, the Kingdom’s Minister of Health Dr. Tawfiq al – Rabiah said on Tuesday.
The Hajj pilgrimage, which is one of the five pillars of Islam and a must for able-bodied Muslims at least once in their lifetime, will only welcome a ‘limited number’ of people this year, the country’s foreign ministry had said on Monday.
Every year, about 2.5 million Muslims visit the holiest sites of Islam in Mecca and Medina, which could make it a possible breeding ground for the disease.
The prevent COVID-19 from spreading among pilgrims, the health ministry, in collaboration with the Ministry of Hajj and Umraj, developed a plan to ensure the safety of all visitors.
‘We worked with the Ministry of Health in Saudi Arabia to develop preventive and precautionary measures and protocols that are needed to ensure a safe Hajj season’, the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah Muhammad Saleh Benten said.
Here are the protocols:
No more than 10,000 people will be allowed to perform the Hajj pilgrimage at a single time.
All pilgrims will be tested before they reach the holy sites.
Only Muslims under the age of 65 will be allowed to perform Hajj this year.
All pilgrims will be asked to self-quarantine after they complete the Hajj rituals.
All workers and volunteers will be tasted before the Hajj Pilgrimage begins.
The health status of all pilgrims will be monitored daily.
A hospital has been prepared for any emergency that occurs during the pilgrimage.
Preliminary studies suggest the AstraZenca vaccine will protect against the P1 variant of the coronavirus, Mauricio Zuma, the head of production at Brazil’s Fiocruz biomedical institute said on Monday, confirming a Reuters report on Friday. The Brazil variant is worrying experts because it is highly contagious and has led several countries to ban travel from … More Brazil Study Suggests AstraZeneca Vaccine Is Effective Against Brazil COVID-19 Variant
Malaysia’s prime minister and Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman met on Monday ahead of talks on Tuesday in Riyadh to sign memorandums on understanding. Muhyiddin Yassin arrived in Jeddah on Saturday to perform Umrah, where he was received by the Kingdom’s Ambassador to Malaysia, Mahmoud Qattan, the Gov. of Jeddah Prince Mishael bin … More Malaysia PM Meets With Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince
Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman held a meeting with King Abdullah II of Jordan in the capital Riyadh on Monday, Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported. During the meeting they reviewed relations between the two countries, aspects of joint cooperation in various fields and promising opportunities to further develop then in a way that … More Jordan’s King Abdullah II Received in Riyadh By Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman
Meghan, the wife of Prince Harry, accused Britain’s royal family of raising concerns about how dark their son’s skin may be and pushing her to the brink of suicide, in a tell – all television interview that will sent shockwaves through the monarchy. The 390year-old, whose mother is Black and father is white, said she … More Meghan Says Kate, Prince William’s Wife, Made her Cry Before Wedding To Harry
Qatar has strongly condemned and denounced the attempt to target Ras Tanura Port and Saudi Aramco’s facilities in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia. In a statement issued, the Qatari Foreign Affairs Ministry said that targeting vital installations and facilities in a subversive act the violates all international norms and laws and the would threaten the security and … More Qatar Strongly Condemns Attacks On Facilities In Saudi Arabia
Syria’s President Bashar al – Assad and his wife Asma have tested positive for COVID-19 after showing minor symptoms, the president’s office said in a statement on Monday. It said they were both in good health and would continue to work while in isolation at home.
Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan arrived in Qatar’s capital Doha on Monday for an official visit, according to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA). The Saudi FM held talks with Qatar’s Emir Sheikh bin Hamad al – Thani and Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, Qatar’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister … More Saudi FM Arrives In Qatar For Official Visit
Saudi Arabia has confirmed one of its oil storage yards at the Ras Tanura port was attacked earlier in the day, according to a statement from a source at the Kingdom’s Energy Ministry. A drone that was used to attack a petroleum tank from at Ras Tanura port was launched from the sea, according to … More Saudi Arabia Confirms Drone Attack On Aramco’s Ras Tanura Port
Saudi Arabia will list the suspension on activities such as indoor dining and will reopen gyms and cinemas from March 7, but will maintain its ban on large social gatherings, as the Kingdom’s authorities review their coronavirus precautionary measures. The Kingdom will allow the resumption of entertainment activities, reopen cinema theatres, gyms and gaming venues, … More Saudi Arabia Resumes Some Activities From Mar.7, Keeps Social Gathering Restrictions
The Kremlin on Friday said it hoped ‘crazy’ calls to sanction Russian business people would not become a reality and that it was planning ways to best protect Russia’s interests, its citizens and businesses. The Kremlin said it was closely following media reports about a possible new round of U.S. sanctions.
Moscow will soon publish a list of U.S. citizens it will take measures against in response to sanctions imposed on Russians over the case of opposition politician Alexei Navalny, the TASS news agency cited the foreign ministry as saying on Friday. The Kremlin on Wednesday played down the impact of sanctions imposed by the United … More Russia Will Soon Publish Retaliatory Stop List Of U.S. Citizens – TASS Cites Foreign Ministry
The Saudi – led coalition fighting the Houthi group in Yemen said it had destroyed four explosive drones fired towards the Kingdom on Friday, with the Houthis claiming to have launched an attack into southern Saudi Arabia at dawn. The Iran – aligned Houthis have recently stepped up cross – border drone and missile attacks … More Saudi – Led Coalition Says It Downed Four Drones Fired By Houthis Towards Khamis Mushait
The Arab Coalition intercepted and destroyed an explosive – laden drone launched on Friday by Yemen’s Iran – backed Houthi Militia toward Saudi Arabia’s Khamis Mushait, the official Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported. Khamis Mushait is a southwestern city home to the King Khalid Air Base. Coalition Spokesperson Colonel Turki al – Maliki said, ‘the … More Arab Coalition Destroys Explosive – Laden Drone Targeting Saudi Arabia’s Khamis Mushait.
Kuwait will impose a 5 P.M. to 5 A.M. curfew from Sunday until April 8 as the government tries to stem of the rising coronavirus infections, state TV reported on Thursday. During non – curfew, people are not allowed to enter restaurants and coffee shops and orders are to be picked up through drive thrush … More Kuwait Imposes 12 Hour Curfew For A Month Amid Spike In COVID-19 Cases
Saudi Arabia’s authorities approved the start of receiving international flights at Prince Abdulmajeed bin Abdulaziz Airport in Al-Ula after the completion of its expansion project, the Saudi General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) said on Thursday. The airport, which was established in 2011, became the fifth largest airport in the Kingdom, with a total area … More Saudi Arabia’s Al-Ula Airport Opens To International Flights After Expansion