The British newspaper "Financial Times" said that Saudi Arabia is considering canceling this year's Hajj season, in a move that may be the first in the kingdom's history since its founding in 1932, and it may bear political and economic repercussions.
"The issue has been carefully studied and various scenarios are being considered," the newspaper quoted a senior official in the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah as saying, adding that "an official decision will be taken within a week."
The newspaper pointed out that the Hajj season is one of the largest religious gatherings in the world, and attracts about 2 million people to the Kingdom every year.
Although Saudi Arabia was able to organize the Hajj during the outbreak of other viruses such as Ebola and the respiratory syndrome in the Middle East, the global scope of Corona presents a much more difficult challenge.
Riyadh quickly took measures that helped control the virus after the first case was confirmed on March 2, and imposed travel restrictions and a two-month curfew throughout the country.