The Saudi authorities decided today, Wednesday, to suspend Umrah "temporarily for citizens and residents" in the Kingdom, fearing the arrival of the new Corona virus in the Grand Mosque in Makkah and the Prophet's Mosque in Medina, about a week after it suspended pilgrims.
The Saudi News Agency quoted an official source in the Ministry of Interior as saying that the kingdom decided to "temporarily stop Umrah for citizens and residents in the kingdom ... to limit the spread of the Corona virus epidemic ... and prevent its access to the Two Holy Mosques."
The source continued, saying that this decision will be reviewed "continuously and discontinued when the reasons for it are no longer recognized."
Saudi Arabia has suspended entry to its lands for the purpose of Umrah and visiting the Prophet’s Mosque temporarily, as well as suspended entry to tourist visas for people coming from countries where the spread of the Corona virus is dangerous.
Riyadh has also decided to suspend the use of Saudi nationals and citizens of Gulf Cooperation Council countries for the national identity card to travel to and from the Kingdom.
According to the same source, the Saudis who are abroad are excluded from this if their exit is from the Kingdom with a national ID card, and citizens of the Cooperation Council countries are currently inside the Kingdom and wish to return to their countries, if their entry is with an ID card.
On Monday, the Saudi Ministry of Health announced the registration of the first case of a Saudi Corona virus from Iran via Bahrain.