Saudi Arabia restarts prayers in Islam’s holiest site
Saudi Arabia opened Sunday Islam’s holiest site for prayers for the first time in seven months and expanded the umrah pilgrimage to support 15,000 worshippers since it relaxed coronavirus curbs.
Mask-clad Saudi citizens and residents of the kingdom were permitted to pray within the Grand Mosque in the holy city of Makkah, amid what authorities called intensive health precautions.
“Citizens and residents have performed Salat Al-Fajr (dawn prayers) at the Grand Mosque today as (authorities) start implementing the second phase of the gradual resumption of umrah,” the state Saudi Press Agency reported.
Earlier this month, Saudi Arabia allowed up to 6,000 citizens and residents per day to execute the umrah - a Muslim pilgrimage which can be undertaken anytime - after it was suspended in March as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
Under the second stage that started Sunday, the number of umrah pilgrims was increased to 15,000 per day.
A maximum of 40,000 persons - including umrah pilgrims - will now be permitted to perform daily prayers at the mosque.
Under a third stage, set for November 1, visitors from abroad will be permitted. The limit on Umrah pilgrims will then be raised to 20,000, with a complete of 60,000 worshippers allowed.
A raft of precautions has been adopted, according to convey media.
The revered Black Stone in the Kaaba - which is customary, however, not mandatory to touch through the pilgrimage - will be out of reach.
The Grand Mosque is usually to be sterilized before and after every band of worshippers. Thermal sensors have already been installed to measure the body temperature of pilgrims, Makkah authorities said.
The umrah usually attracts millions of Muslims from around the world every year. Authorities said the umrah will be permitted to go back to full capacity after the risk of the pandemic has abated.
Saudi Arabia hosted the annual hajj pilgrimage in late July, on the tiniest scale in modern history.
Only up to 10,000 Muslim residents of the united states were allowed to participate, a far cry from the 2 2.5 million who participated last year.
Saudi Arabia has recorded a lot more than 342,000 cases of Covid-19 and 5,185 deaths because the pandemic began.
