Pilgrim visits curtailed in Makkah as Covid cases surge in Saudi

Jeddah: Saudi Arabia, the birth place of Islam, has begun implementation of physical distancing norms following a surge in Covid-19 cases in the Kingdom. Saudi Arabia reported a significant rise in Covid-19 cases on Wednesday with 3,045 new cases, according to the ministry of health report. The authorities reintroduced physical distance requirements in all public […]

Jeddah: Saudi Arabia, the birth place of Islam, has begun implementation of physical distancing norms following a surge in Covid-19 cases in the Kingdom. Saudi Arabia reported a significant rise in Covid-19 cases on Wednesday with 3,045 new cases, according to the ministry of health report.

The authorities reintroduced physical distance requirements in all public places including Grand Mosque in Makkah, after recording the highest number of Covid-19 infections in the Kingdom along with other parts of the world in months.

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The permit system with time limit has been introduced again to minimise the number of visits to the Grand Mosque in Makkah. Now, only once in 10 days can pilgrims apply for a permit to visit the grand mosque. Last year, the same condition was introduced at the peak of the pandemic. With Coronavirus cases gradually receding, authorities relaxed pandemic restrictions in public places including the two holy shrines.

The authorities also re-imposed the physical distancing measures among worshippers by marking distance measurements on prayer rugs to safeguard the health and safety of pilgrims.

The General Presidency of the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques deployed 3,500 workers to wash and clean the Two Holy Mosques seven times a day, according to a statement by the Presidency.

It also uses 1250 equipment for sterilisation of the Grand Mosque in Makkah where 34,000 litres of disinfection sterilisation are sprayed with various modes including automated robots and artificial intelligence system, the presidency added.

The Robots, approved by EU quality certification agencies, are equipped with high sensor cameras and dispense the liquid into 600 square metres per hour with fog 5-15 micrometres.

The Grand Mosque in Makkah known as Masjid-e- Haram is visited by a huge number of visitors including a significant number of Hyderabadis every day.

“We performed Umrah by maintaining precautionary measures and felt so blessed”, said Mohammed Zeeshan, native of Riasatnagar in Hyderabad, who works in Riyadh and came to Makkah along with his family.

Hailing the time cap and permit system, Zeeshan said that such measures not only curb the chances of infection spread but also prevent repeated Umrah by some people and others get a fair opportunity to visit the Grand Mosque.