Adhere to social distancing measures with the resumption of "Umrah"
Umrah pilgrims return to Mecca amid intense health precautions
Umrah performers adhere to preventive measures as they circumnavigate the Kaaba yesterday.
A.F.B.
Yesterday, pilgrims wearing masks performed the Umrah in Mecca, committed to paths that take into account social distancing measures, amid extensive health precautions, with the Saudi authorities partially resuming the rituals that were suspended seven months ago due to the new Corona virus (Covid-19) pandemic.
The first batch of pilgrims began ritual pilgrimage according to precautionary measures, and thousands of worshipers entered in batches to the Grand Mosque in Makkah to circumambulate around the Holy Kaaba.
The Umrah, which can be performed at any time throughout the year, attracts millions of Muslims from all over the world every year, but was suspended last March, as part of the unprecedented precautionary measures taken to limit the spread of the pandemic.
The Saudi authorities, represented by the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, the General Presidency for the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque, and the Ministry of Health announced raising the degree of readiness and all preparations for the service of pilgrims, according to the highest quality standards in providing services, in addition to applying all precautionary measures, and using all technical systems and electronic programs To facilitate the procedures and provide full services with all speed and perfection, the authorities provided free parking spaces to wait and park the cars of pilgrims, and the General Presidency announced the distribution of 900 liters of sterile hand sanitizer per day, 1000 liters of sterile for carpets, and 2500 liters of sterile surfaces, in addition to the distribution of 26 thousand bottles of Zamzam water daily to the guests of Rahman , From Ammar and worshipers, according to preventive measures, whereby all the packages are sterilized before filling them, and the employees of the "Suqia Zamzam" administration distribute them in accordance with health regulations and instructions.
On September 23, the Saudi Ministry of Interior announced that it would allow the resumption of Umrah in three stages, starting with permitting the performance of Umrah for citizens and residents inside the Kingdom on the fourth of this October, and a month later for pilgrims and visitors from outside.
In a first step, about 6000 pilgrims performed the rituals yesterday, and the Minister of Hajj and Umrah, Muhammad Benten, said: "In the first stage, the performance of the Umrah will be accurate and within a specified period," indicating that the pilgrims will be divided into groups to enter the Grand Mosque.
The Saudi News Agency stated that the General Presidency for the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque has taken many precautionary measures, and the Grand Mosque will be sterilized 10 times a day, and sterilized before entering each group and after leaving it, and it will also prevent access to the Kaaba and the Black Stone, and places designated for isolation will be prepared in case Symptoms of "Corona" appear on one of the pilgrims, and each group of 20 to 25 pilgrims will accompany health facilities, and medical teams will be assigned to intervene if necessary.
The Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah said on the social networking site “Twitter”: “In an atmosphere of faith and with reassuring hearts, the first batch of pilgrims to perform pilgrimage begins according to the precautionary measures followed.”
The ministry published a video clip showing pilgrims wearing masks and waiting for their turn to enter the Grand Mosque, and others roaming around the Kaaba, leaving large distances between them.
On October 18, the number of pilgrims from citizens and residents inside the Kingdom will increase to about 15,000, and 40,000 worshipers will be allowed to enter the Grand Mosque in Mecca to perform prayers.
On the first of next November, those coming from abroad will be allowed to enter, and the capacity will be raised to 20 thousand pilgrims per day, and 60 thousand people are allowed to perform prayers in the Haram, and the Saudi Ministry of Health will decide which countries to come from based on the absence of health risks related to the Corona virus Novelty.
The Saudi Ministry of Interior had made it clear that the decision to resume Umrah was taken "in response to the aspiration of many Muslims at home and abroad to perform Umrah and visit rituals."
The Ministry affirmed that the last stage will only begin "when the competent authority decides to eliminate the risks of the pandemic," and at that time the percentage will be raised to 100% of the natural capacity of the Two Holy Mosques.
It is worth noting that the unprecedented precautionary measures included, this year, the Hajj, whose performance was limited to about 10 thousand pilgrims, all from within the Kingdom, while last year witnessed the performance of about 2.5 million pilgrims.
Thousands of worshipers enter the Grand Mosque in batches to circumambulate the Kaaba.
Sterilization of the Grand Mosque 10 times a day, and raising the capacity to 20,000 pilgrims from the beginning of November.
390 new cases of "Corona" in Saudi Arabia
Yesterday, the Saudi Ministry of Health announced the registration of 390 new cases of the emerging coronavirus (Covid-19), bringing the total to 336,387 cases.
The ministry said, in a statement, that it had recorded 25 new deaths, bringing the total deaths due to the virus in the Kingdom, since the beginning of the pandemic, to 4,875 deaths, and the ministry stated that 511 new recoveries were recorded, bringing the total number of recovered cases to 321,485 cases.
Riyadh - agencies
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