Saudi Arabia considers canceling hajj over coronavirus pandemic

Saudi Arabia is reportedly thinking of canceling the annual hajj pilgrimage to Mecca this 12 months owing to the coronavirus pandemic.

A cancellation would mark the first time in modern day history Muslims didn’t journey to the holiest of Islamic towns all through the five- to 6-day pilgrimage held at the end of July.

About two million Muslims make the trip just about every calendar year.

“The problem has been carefully studied and various scenarios are getting thought of. An official final decision will be created inside a single 7 days,” a Saudi senior official explained to the Money Instances.

Wellness worries have led to the cancellation or hold off of key gatherings worldwide, such as the Olympic Online games in Tokyo and, potentially, the Tremendous Bowl.

The Saudi government acted quick to institute a lockdown soon after the initially circumstance in the state was confirmed on March 2, but scenarios have spiked a short while ago with the easing remain-at-residence orders.

There have been extra than 3,000 day by day cases described in excess of the past six times although at minimum 893 have died from the virus, in accordance to Johns Hopkins knowledge.

The Monetary Periods reported that officers are thinking of allowing for a little range of locals to carry out hajj underneath demanding community wellness actions.

“All alternatives are on the table but the priority is for the well being and security of pilgrims,” the official advised the paper.