Managers of pilgrimage companies have affirmed that forthcoming pilgrimage will be easy and amid extraordinary health measures planned by the authorities to safeguard the pilgrims. The Saudi authorities have decided to restrict the annual hajj to pilgrims from inside the kingdom as one of the precautions against the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). Only 60,000 pilgrims will be allowed to perform the rituals at the sacred sites amid the anti-virus precautions.
Abdulrahman Al-Haqbani, the chairperson of the coordination council of the internal pilgrims services companies, said in remarks to KUNA that the pilgrims to be allowed to perform the hajj are of 150 nationalities. The pilgrims’ services companies have been informed by the authorities about the extraordinary precautions and have trained their staff on observing the special measures. Al-Haqbani said pilgrims must erect their tents in Mina, Muzadalifa and on Mount Arafat four meters apart.
The devotees will be provided with packaged food and will be banned from eating in groups. Dr. Mohammad Shukri, manager of a company for serving pilgrims, said the extraordinary measures will be effected in the pilgrims’ transports, housing and performing the religious services. He indicated that the relevant authorities and the services companies have been coordinating online and via applications to regulate the pilgrims’ movement.
Muath Hashem, manager of Al-Qaswaa company, noted that only 20 pilgrims will be allowed to board a bus. Walid Al-Tayeb, director of Al-Ifada company, said all workers and staff who would aid the pilgrims had been vaccinated against the virus. Abdul-Qader Al-Jabrati of Al-Nour company said all pilgrims would carry a smart card to aid them in performing the rituals according to the set regulations, adding that the buses to be used for the pilgrims’ transportation would be sanitized. The Saudi Hajj and Umra Ministry has set July 17-18 for hosting the pilgrims via four centers at Holy Makkah.
Source-KUNA