Saudi Arabia will permit pilgrims living in the country to begin the Umrah journey starting on October 4, following a seven-month halt due to COVID-19 concerns, state news organization SPA announced.
Umrah is an Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca and Medina commenced at any time in the year, drawing in 19 million individuals last year. Saudi Arabia had initiated a stop on Umrah in March.
It will currently permit 6,000 citizens and residents within the country to perform Umrah every day, representing 30% of a revamped capacity of 20,000 that consider the precautionary health measures, SPA included. That will grow to 75% of capacity on October 18.
Starting November 1, Saudi Arabia will permit visitors from specific nations considered safe to perform Umrah at 100% of the revamped capacity, until the end of the COVID-19 pandemic, SPA stated.
This year, Saudi Arabia directed a restricted Hajj, which was the smallest Hajj in modern history. The bigger pilgrimage that typically draws in around 3 million individuals, for a few thousand residents and citizens.
The Ministry of Umrah and Hajj is building up a mobile application that will be accessible seven days before the Umrah continues, so travelers can book and register on it. They will likewise need to follow the health guideline given in the application.
On Tuesday, Saudi Arabia revealed 330,798 total instances of COVID-19 and 4,542 casualties, as cases in the Gulf area exceeded 800,000.
Health officials stated that no COVID-19 cases were recorded at the holy places during the Hajj, one of the five pillars of Islam and an unquestionable requirement for capable Muslims at least once in the course of their life.
