Saudi Arabia issues comprehensive anti-Covid SOPs plan for pilgrims

As per details, the precautionary measures include the vaccine, physical distance and wearing mask to protect the health of pilgrims, and worshipers.

The kingdom has recorded more than 367,800 cases and 6,370 deaths, the highest tally in the region so far as it saw daily infections fall from a peak above 4,000 in June to dip below the 100 marks in early January.

Head of the Presidency for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques Sheikh Abdul Rahman Al-Sudais said performing i’tikaaf will continue while Iftaar in two Holy Mosques has been suspended.

He said that the presidency is preparing to provide individual ready-made iftar meals to worshipers and pilgrims.

Earlier yesterday, Saudi Arabia banned the entry of passengers from more than 20 countries, including Pakistan.

Kingdom had first imposed a temporary ban on the entry of foreign Umrah pilgrims on February 27, 2020, after which a limited number of foreign Umrah pilgrims were allowed to enter the country from November 2020 by following Corona SOPs.

However, the number of Umrah pilgrims hailing from Pakistan has been very limited for the past year due to flight restrictions and coronavirus constraints.

According to official figures, the number of Umrah pilgrims leaving Pakistan in 2019 was more than 2 million, compared to 1.7 million in 2018.

According to a travel agent, people from Pakistan travel to Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah all year round, but during Ramadan, that number rises to about 60 per cent.

Earlier, Saudi Arabia had barred people from arriving from at least 20 countries including UAE, the US, India and Pakistan. However, diplomats, Saudi citizens, medical practitioners and their families are exempted from this ban.

Saudi Health officials stated that the new restrictions are aimed to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

The temporary ban, effective from February 3, includes people arriving from the United Arab Emirates, Germany, the United States, Britain, South Africa, France, Egypt, Lebanon, India and Pakistan.