The worshipers returned to the mosques of Makkah Al-Mukarramah after a 90-day break as a precautionary measure with the outbreak of the Corona virus, and Spain recently lifted the long state of emergency it imposed, at a time when the number of people infected with the virus around the world reached more than 8.81 million people.
Mosques and mosques in Saudi Arabia welcomed the worshipers today, Sunday, in a precautionary and protective environment.
The Ministry of Islamic Affairs in the region of Makkah Al-Mukarramah announced on Friday that 1560 mosques and universities in Makkah Al-Mukarramah, prepared to receive worshipers after a 90-day break due to the new Corona virus.
The Saudi Press Agency (SPA) stated that the mosques opened their doors starting from the dawn prayer of this day, as precautions and conditions were applied that included the necessity of applying the spacing between the worshipers for a distance of two meters, the need to wear a muzzle and bring a rug with every worshiper, in addition to opening windows and doors in Once the prayer is held, in addition to putting stickers at the doors to work with the health regulations, requirements and protocols received from the Ministry of Health.
The decision comes weeks before the annual pilgrimage to Mecca. For the first time in modern history, Saudi Arabia faces a difficult choice between the possibility of reducing or canceling the pilgrimage, which is taking place in late July.
Outside of Mecca, mosques were opened at the end of May, and Saudi Arabia - the worst affected among the Gulf states - recorded more than 150,000 cases of HIV, including about 1,200 deaths.
Life returns to Spain
On Sunday, Spain recently lifted its long state of emergency to curb one of the worst outbreaks of the Corona virus in Europe.
The country recorded more than 28,000 deaths out of more than 245,000 injuries.
After 14 weeks at home, Spanish citizens will be able to travel throughout the country outside the province in which they live.
As of Sunday, tourists from the Schengen countries can enter the country, while traveling from anywhere else is permitted to return from early July. This is a major step for Spain, where tourism is a major economic sector, and it accounts for more than 12% of GDP.
Under the country's "new normal", there are still some restrictions and they vary according to region, depending on local conditions.
Nationwide, most schools are still closed, and classroom instruction is scheduled to start again in September.
Masks must be worn on public transportation, aircraft, shops and other closed public places across the country, and anyone who violates these rules can be fined up to 100 euros ($ 111).
In the context, Spanish Foreign Minister Arancha Gonzales announced that her country will allow - as of Sunday - the entry of British citizens, without imposing a quarantine on them.
The Spanish authorities had previously announced that they would impose a quarantine for a period of two weeks on the arrival of British citizens, in the context of reciprocity, as the United Kingdom imposes a quarantine on foreign arrivals.
The British traditionally represent the largest proportion of tourists in Spain, and more than 250,000 Britons reside throughout the year in Spain, while tens of thousands of others own homes in this country where they reside sporadically.
The minister stated that the government took this measure "out of respect for the 400,000 British citizens who have secondary homes in Spain and want to benefit from them."
She said she hoped London would do the same in the matter, with some 150,000 Spaniards living in Britain.
Investigation and emergency
In contrast, the Portuguese judiciary announced an investigation into a new focus of the new Corona virus.
The Public Prosecution Office in Faro (South) - in a statement - said it would investigate "the circumstances surrounding a birthday party" that took place on the night of June 8 in the municipality of Lagos.
“Dozens of people participated in this occasion, which is a source of focus for Covid-19 لعد infection, according to the Public Prosecution, which indicated the possibility of a crime of“ spreading the disease. ”The outpost led to about a hundred new infections.
In turn, Health Minister Marta Timidou said that "those who think they can resume their normal lives are wrong."
In Australia, the state of Victoria extended the state of emergency for 4 more weeks today, to end on July 19, while the state is fighting an increase in the number of Coronavirus infections and an increase in local infections.
The move comes a day after the state - Australia's second most populous state - announced a reimposition of restrictions that limit the number of home visitors to 5 people and prohibit the gathering of more than 10 people abroad from Monday. These restrictions were to be eased on June 1 to allow 20 people in homes and public gatherings.
Corona numbers
A statistic told Reuters that more than 8.81 million people were infected with the emerging coronavirus worldwide, and that about 463,000 people had died of it.
HIV infections have been recorded in more than 210 countries and regions since the first cases were discovered in China in December 2019.
The United States topped the list, recording nearly two million and 264 injuries, including 119,630 deaths.
And Brazil came in second place, recording about one million and 67 thousand injuries, including 50 thousand deaths, and Russia came in third place, recording about 577 thousand injuries, including 8 thousand deaths.
In Latin America and the Caribbean, the number of newly infected Coronavirus has exceeded the threshold of two million, half of them in Brazil.
As for Mexico - which has recorded more than 170 thousand infections (including more than 20 thousand deaths) - it is the second country in Latin America in terms of numbers of people infected with the virus, and the authorities in Mexico City delayed for a week to resume economic activities after this was scheduled for Monday.
On Sunday, the mainland recorded 26 confirmed new cases of the Coronavirus. Of the new infections, 22 were in Beijing, the National Health Commission said, the same number recorded a day earlier.
The city recorded its first case in the latest wave on June 11, and the re-emergence of the virus was linked to a wholesale food market in southwest Beijing.
Local authorities in the capital have opened two thousand testing centers, according to the New China News Agency, which said 2.3 million samples have been collected so far.