Rules in place as Saudi Arabia opens mosques
SAUDI Arabia reopened 90 000 mosques, except for Mecca, as part of the second phase of lifting its coronavirus restrictions.
For the first time since late March, worshippers were allowed to perform the congregational prayers at 90 000 mosques across the kingdom on Sunday, it was reported.
Mecca, home of the Haram Mosque and the Kaaba, was excluded from the plan.
Muslims returning to the mosques, however, had to respect the rules aimed at preventing the spread of the virus, including 2m distancing and the closure of bathrooms, where people performed the preprayer ablutions.
The precautionary measures included worshippers having to wear masks and bringing their own mats, according to the SPA news agency.
Also on Sunday, Saudi railways resumed trips as part of the second of a three-phase reopening plan.
According to a source, passengers’ seats were relocated to a diagonal position, among other precautionary measures that included temperature checks.
The government unveiled its lockdown-easing strategy last week.
It came after a 96-hour curfew imposed during Eid-ul-Fitr. This was after a surge in infections during the month of fasting.
Besides ending the roundthe-clock curfew on May 28, measures also included the resumption of inter-provincial travel by private vehicles.
All restrictions will be lifted on June 21, but wearing a mask in public will be mandatory.
It remains unclear when and how this process of normalisation will be extended to Mecca and whether the annual pilgrimage (Hajj) to the holy city by Muslims from around the world will take place this year.
The Saudi government has offered no additional guidance regarding the 2020 Hajj since early March, when Riyadh advised Muslims abroad to delay making reservations for the journey to Mecca.
Saudi Arabia imposed some of the toughest measures in the region to contain the coronavirus, including closing its airspace and quarantining provinces.
Those measures, however, had an impact on the country’s economy, leading the government to reduce subsidies and public investment while boosting the VAT by 200%.
According to figures yesterday (Tuesday), Saudi Arabia has more than 87 140 confirmed cases and the death toll is at 525. | IANS