Hajj Organizers Call on Pilgrims to Wear Masks

Saudi authorities have urged the pilgrims to wear face masks as significant influx of pilgrims are visiting the country for this year’s Hajj following easing of covid-19 pandemic related restrictions.

The General Presidency of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque in Saudi Arabia has called on worshippers visiting the sacred sites to wear medical masks. This public health plea comes amid a huge surge of pilgrims from across the world and a loosening of domestic and international travel curbs.

In a statement posted on Twitter, the General Presidency said, " The advisory aims to ensure the safety of pilgrims and that of others."

The statement stressed the significance of commitment to wearing a health mask and following the directions of the staff of the presidency and the authorities operating in the Grand Mosque.

This weekend, the Saudi Ministry of Hajj confirmed the arrival of over one million individuals into the kingdom, marking the largest influx of visitors in almost three years, following the easing of restrictions originally imposed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Around 1,150,000 pilgrims have already arrived in Saudi Arabia for Hajj,” Mohammed Al Bijawi, undersecretary of the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, told the state-run Al Ekhbariya TV channel. “The influx of pilgrims continues to increase amid continuous preparations,” he added.

Saudi Arabia is expected to receive more than two million Muslim pilgrims for Hajj this year.

Source: Agencies