The mosques will open, does this bode well for the resumption of “hajj”?
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The Saudi authorities have just announced the reopening of the mosques in Mecca this Sunday, June 21, 2020. Shops are also resuming in Saudi Arabia. What will happen to the pilgrimage?
Hard hit by the Coronavirus pandemic (Covid-19), Saudi Arabia seems to want to hasten the revival of the country’s economy. Living on the oil rent, the Wahabite kingdom is under threat. Even the pilgrimage that drains a substantial windfall from its treasury seemed compromised. It still is, unless a surprise decision is made.
Until further announcement, the Saudi authorities maintain the suspension of Umrah. However, this decision will be reviewed in the light of health data.
International flights as well as entry and exit via land and sea borders also remain suspended until further notice.
Relaunch
As of tomorrow, the mosques will reopen their doors tomorrow, after 90 days of closure. At the same time, all economic and commercial activities will resume. Even the curfew introduced to fight the spread of the Coronavirus pandemic will be lifted.
“It was decided to completely lift the curfew from 6 am on Sunday in all regions and cities of the kingdom and to authorize the resumption of all economic and commercial activities,” said the same source, citing a press release from the Ministry of the Interior.
This recovery is conditional on compliance with several measures, including the implementation of all approved prevention protocols for all activities, respect for social distancing, the wearing of masks or nose pads and mouths for all, and ensuring human gatherings should not exceed 50 people, said the official Saudi news agency.
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