 "Mandatory masks and social distancing: Saudi Arabia's hajj health measures for domestic pilgrims")
Cairo: Saudi Arabia announced health protocols to prevent the spread of the coronavirus in the 2020 hajj season, banning gatherings and meetings between pilgrims, the State news agency said on Monday.
It was last month that Riyadh decided to limit the number of domestic pilgrims attending hajj to 1,000 to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
This, after barring Muslims abroad from the rite for the first year in modern times.
Touching the Kaaba, the holiest site in Islam, will be banned during the hajj, and a social distancing space of a meter and a half between each pilgrim during the rituals, including mass prayers and while in the Kaaba circling area will be imposed, a statement by the Saudi Center for Disease Prevention and Control elaborated.
Also, access to holy hajj sites at Mona, Muzdalifah and Arafat will be limited to those with hajj permits starting Sunday 19 July till 2 August, 2020, and wearing masks all the time will be mandatory for both pilgrims and organisers.
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