Prayers resumed at Makkah Grand Mosque after 7 months
Saudi Arabia opened Islam’s holiest Makkah’s Grand Mosque for prayers for the first time in seven months on Sunday. They expanded the Umrah pilgrimage to accommodate 15,000 worshippers as it eased coronavirus restrictions.
Saudi citizens and residents of the kingdom would be able to perform prayers inside the Grand Mosque in the holy city of Makkah but with precautions. Saudi Arabia has recorded more than 342,000 cases of Covid-19 and 5,185 deaths since the pandemic began.
“Citizens and residents have performed Salat Al-Fajr (dawn prayers) at the Grand Mosque today as (authorities) start implementing the second phase of the gradual resumption of Umrah,” the official Saudi Press Agency reported.
Earlier this month, Saudi Arabia allowed up to 6,000 citizens and residents per day to perform the Umrah after the delay in March due to a pandemic. Under the second stage that began on Sunday, Saudi Arabia increased the number of Umrah pilgrims to 15,000 per day. A maximum of 40,000 people including Umrah pilgrims will now be able to perform daily prayers at the mosque. Saudi Arabia recently began easing some restrictions on international flights. Under a third stage, set for Nov 1, they will start allowing the visitors from abroad too. The limit on Umrah pilgrims will then be 20,000, with a total of 60,000 worshippers.
They will sterilize the Grand Mosque before and after each group of worshippers. Thermal sensors have been installed to measure the body temperature of pilgrims. Before entering the mosque visitors have to apply and reserve a specific time and date through an online application. This will avoid crowding and maintain social distancing. Authorities said the Umrah will return to full capacity once the threat of the pandemic is decreased.
