Saudi authorities mentioned Monday only persons immunised against Covid-19 will be permitted to carry out the year-round umrah pilgrimage from the start out of Ramadan, the holy fasting month for Muslims.
The hajj and umrah ministry mentioned in a statement that 3 categories of persons would be thought of “immunised” — these who have received two doses of the vaccine, these administered a single dose at least 14 days prior, and persons who have recovered from the infection.
Only these persons will be eligible for permits to carry out umrah, as effectively as to attend prayers in the Grand Mosque in the holy city of Mecca.
The policy would proficiently “raise the operational capacity” of the Grand Mosque throughout Ramadan, it mentioned, adding that the situation also applies for entry into the Prophet’s Mosque in the holy city of Medina.
The ministry mentioned the policy begins with Ramadan, which is due to commence later this month, but it was unclear how lengthy it would final.
It was also not clear no matter if the policy, which comes amid an uptick in coronavirus infections in the kingdom, would be extended to the annual hajj pilgrimage later this year.
Saudi Arabia has reported more than 393,000 coronavirus infections and 6,700 deaths from Covid-19.
The kingdom’s well being ministry mentioned it has administered more than 5 million coronavirus vaccine doses, in a nation with a population of more than 34 million.
Downsized hajj
The announcement comes just after King Salman replaced the hajj minister final month, much less than a year just after the kingdom hosted the smallest hajj in modern day history due to the pandemic.
Mohammad Benten was relieved from his post and replaced by Essam bin Saeed, according to a royal decree published by official Saudi Press Agency (SPA).
In late July final year, the kingdom hosted a downsized hajj pilgrimage, one of the 5 pillars of Islam and a must for in a position-bodied Muslims at least as soon as in their lifetime.
Only up to 10,000 Muslim residents of Saudi Arabia itself had been permitted to take element, a far cry from the 2.5 million Muslims from about the globe who participated in 2019.
It is unclear how lots of pilgrims will be permitted for hajj this year.
According to the pro-government Okaz newspaper, only vaccinated pilgrims will probably be permitted this year.
In a relaxation of coronavirus curbs final October, Saudi Arabia opened the Grand Mosque for prayers for the very first time in seven months and partially resumed the umrah pilgrimage.
The umrah, the pilgrimage that can be undertaken at any time, ordinarily attracts millions of Muslims from across the globe every year.
Authorities mentioned the umrah will be permitted to return to complete capacity as soon as the threat of the pandemic has abated.
Saudi Arabia’s custodianship of Mecca and Medina — Islam’s two holiest web sites — is noticed as its most strong supply of the monarchy’s political legitimacy.
The holy web sites are also a crucial income earner for the kingdom, whose economy has been badly hit by the pandemic.
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