Saudi Arabia has suspended pilgrimages to Mecca and Medina for people outside the country primarily due to the outbreak of coronavirus.
This year only residents and nationals of Saudi Arabia will get the chance to embark on the holy pilgrimage in an attempt to prevent a major outbreak.
This is the first time the Kingdom is placing a temporary ban on foreign visits to the holy sites in Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Arabia, says in addition to stopping pilgrimages for outsiders, preventative measures include suspending the entry of nationals of “countries with confirmed Coronavirus outbreaks.”
In a statement the Saudi foreign ministry said “Saudi Arabia stress that these measures are temporary and subject to continuous evaluation by the relevant authorities.
We ask God Almighty to spare all humanity from all harm. #CoronaVirus #COVID19”
We ask God Almighty to spare all humanity from all harm#CoronaVirus#COVID19 pic.twitter.com/TEYvIW1Wbd
— Foreign Ministry ?? (@KSAmofaEN) February 26, 2020
Coronavirus is fast spreading across the world with the rate of spread getting faster outside of China, where the virus first broke out.
Across the Middle East, governments are struggling to cope with the spread of Covid-19.
Already Iran has canceled Friday’s prayers in affected provinces while Iraq has closed schools, public offices and other public gatherings until March 7.
Victims of coronavirus often suffer from respiratory illness and this new strain of coronavirus was not previously identified in humans.
Source: Africafeeds.com
