Saudi Arabia Bars Citizens, Residents From Umrah Over Fears Of Coronavirus Spread

Saudi Arabia on Wednesday suspended the year-round “umrah” pilgrimage to the holy cities of Mecca and Medina over coronavirus fears, the interior ministry said.

The Gulf state has decided “to suspend umrah temporarily for citizens and residents in the kingdom”, the ministry said in a statement carried by the official Saudi Press Agency.

The decision comes after Saudi Arabia last week suspended visas for the pilgrimage and barred citizens from the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council from entering two of Islam’s holiest cities.

One person was reported to have recently tested positive for COVID-19 in the country.

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AFP