Saudi Arabia emptied Mecca's Grand Mosque, Islam's holiest site for sterilisation over fears of the new coronavirus
Saudi Arabia reopens Mecca, Medina holy sites
Holy religious sites in Islam have been reopened after being closed for sterilization to halt spread of new coronavirus.
Friday 06/03/2020
Saudi Arabia emptied Mecca's Grand Mosque, Islam's holiest site for sterilisation over fears of the new coronavirus
CAIRO - Saudi Arabia reopened two of the most holy religious sites in Islam, Al-Haram Mosque in Mecca and Al-Masjid al Nabawy in Medina, after they were closed for sterilization to halt the spread of the new coronavirus, state TV Al-Ekhbariya reported on Friday.
Saudi Arabia closed the sites to foreign pilgrims and traditional tourists from some 25 countries to stop the spread of the virus. It also said that citizens and residents of Gulf Cooperation Council countries wishing to enter must wait 14 days after returning from outside the region.
Saudi Arabia has reported five cases of the coronavirus.
It was not clear from the Al-Ekhbariya report if pilgrims would be allowed to return to the sites.
Saudi Arabia has said its umrah restrictions are temporary but they have not gone down well with many pilgrims who endure years-long waiting lists and invest their life savings to make the trip.
Religious tourism, vital to Saudi finances amid efforts to pivot away from oil, adds $12 billion to the economy every year, according to government figures.