Ban on pilgrimages to Mecca lifted

A SMALL, limited number of people wearing the white terrycloth garment symbolic of the Muslim pilgrimage circled Islam’s holiest site in Mecca yesterday after Saudi Arabia lifted coronavirus restrictions that had been in place for months.

The kingdom took the rare step in March of suspending the smaller “umrah” pilgrimage which draws millions from across the world all year round as coronavirus morphed into a global pandemic and prompted countries to impose lockdowns and curfews to slow down transmission.

But as nations begin to ease those restrictions, the Saudi government yesterday started allowing a maximum of 6,000 pilgrims a day to enter the sprawling Grand Mosque in Mecca.

Only Saudi citizens and residents will be permitted to enter the mosque during this first phase of reopening, and each person has up to three hours to complete the pilgrimage.

The Grand Mosque, which is being sterilised and cleaned multiple times a day, houses the cube- shaped Kaaba that observant Muslims pray towards five times a day.

Before visitors can enter the mosque to pray or perform the umrah, they have to apply and reserve a specific time and date through an online application to avoid crowding and maintain social distancing. Visitors can also select via the app their means of transportation and meeting points.

State TV showed what appeared to be fewer than 50 people circling the Kaaba at the same time and walking several yards apart.

Typically, the mosque would be packed with worshippers from around the world.