Pilgrims return to Mecca as Saudi eases virus restrictions

A very small, limited number of people donning white terrycloth garment symbolic of Muslim pilgrim circled Islam's holiest site in Mecca on Sunday after Saudi Arabia lifted coronavirus restrictions that h been in place for months.

kingdom h taken rare step of suspending smaller “umrah” pilgrim that draws millions year-round from across world in early March as coronavirus morphed into a global pandemic and prompted countries to impose lockdowns and curfews to slow down transmission.

But as nations begin to ease those restrictions, Saudi government on Sunday started allowing a maximum of 6,000 pilgrims a day to enter sprawling Grand Mosque in Mecca. Only Saudi citizens and residents will be permitted to enter mosque during this first phase of reopening, and each person has up to three hours to complete pilgrim.

Grand Mosque, which is being sterilized and cleaned multiple times a day, houses cube-shaped Kaaba that observant Muslims pray toward five times a day.

Before visitors can enter mosque to pray or perform umrah, y have to apply and reserve a specific time and date through an online application to avoid crowding and maintain social distancing. Visitors can also select via app ir means of transportation and meeting points.

State TV showed on Sunday what appeared to be fewer than 50 people circling Kaaba at same time and walking several meters (feet) apart. Typically, mosque would be packed with worshippers from around world crowded shoulder-to-shoulder at all times of day and night.

second phase for loosening restrictions at Grand Mosque comes into effect on Oct. 18, allowing a maximum of 15,000 pilgrims and 40,000 for prayer from among residents and citizens based on allocated times via app.

Muslim travellers from outside Saudi Arabia could be allowed to perform umrah pilgrim as early as v. 1, Interior Ministry has said. Saudi Arabia recently began easing some restrictions on international flights for first time since March.

kingdom held a dramatically downsized, symbolic hajj pilgrim in July due to concerns that it could easily have become a global super-spreer event for virus. Pilgrims were selected after applying through an online portal and all were residents or citizens of Saudi Arabia. Rar than more than 2 million pilgrims kingdom hosts for annual event, as little as 1,000 took part after being tested for virus and quarantined.

Despite taking early and sweeping measures to contain virus, Saudi Arabia has recorded nearly 336,000 cases, including 4,850 deaths.

(Im: AP)

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