Covid-19: Wait for more clarity before planning Haj, urges Saudi Arabia

Top Stories

Coronavirus, Covid-19, Ministry of Haj and Umrah, Saudi Arabia, Haj, Umrah

Riyadh - The coronavirus crisis has raised questions about whether annual pilgrimage can go ahead in late July.

By Reuters

  • Follow us on
  • google-news
  • whatsapp
  • telegram

Published: Wed 1 Apr 2020, 10:10 PM

Saudi Arabia wants pilgrims to wait until there is more clarity about the coronavirus pandemic before planning to attend the annual Haj pilgrimage, the Ministry of Haj and Umrah said on state TV on Tuesday.
Some 2.5 million pilgrims from around the world usually flock to the holiest sites of Makkah and Madinah for the week-long ritual.
The largest annual gathering of Muslims is scheduled to begin in late July, but the coronavirus outbreak has raised questions about whether it can or should go ahead given the risk of spreading the disease further in large gatherings.
Saudi Arabia has already suspended the smaller Umrah pilgrimage until further notice, halted all international passenger flights indefinitely and last week blocked entry and exit to several cities, including Makkah and Madinah.


More news from