With the pandemic not slowing down its run, Muslims around the world have been asked to wait until there is more clarity regarding the coronavirus pandemic before planning to attend the annual Hajj pilgrimage, the Minister for Hajj and Umrah said on state TV on Tuesday.
The Hajj pilgrimage is the most vital of all the rituals of the Islamic tradition, 2.5 million pilgrims from around the world to Mecca and Medina cities for the week-long ritual scheduled to begin in late July.
“Saudi Arabia is fully ready to serve pilgrims and Umrah seekers,” Minister Mohammed Saleh Benten told the state-run Al-Ekhbariya television. “But under the current circumstances, as we are talking about the global pandemic… the kingdom is keen to protect the health of Muslims and citizens and so we have asked our brother Muslims in all countries to wait before doing [Hajj] contracts until the situation is clear.”
The kingdom increased its public health measures in 2012 and 2013, after MERS outbreak. “Saudi Arabia is fully ready to serve pilgrims and Umrah seekers,” Minister Mohammed Saleh Benten told the state-run Al-Ekhbariya television. “But under the current circumstances, as we are talking about the global pandemic… the kingdom is keen to protect the health of Muslims and citizens and so we have asked our brother Muslims in all countries to wait before doing [Hajj] contracts until the situation is clear.”
Hosting the pilgrimage each year is also one of the main sources of revenue for Saudi Arabia. Throughout the history, more than 40,000 pilgrims have died due to different disease related outbreaks.
Saudi Arabia has also halted all international passenger flights indefinitely along with cancelling Umrah pilgrimage at the moment.
To date, the kingdom has reported just over 1,500 confirmed coronavirus cases and 10 deaths. Globally, more than 825,000 people have been infected with over 40,000 deaths recorded.
