Saudi Arabia: Holding Hajj with Precautionary Measures This Year

Saudi Arabia has announced its intention to hold the Hajj pilgrimage this year "according to preventive and precautionary measures," in anticipation of the spread of the novel coronavirus. The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah stated in a statement published by the official Saudi Press Agency (SPA) that the Kingdom "places the health and safety of individuals first" and intends to conduct this year's Hajj "in a manner that ensures the health and safety of pilgrims, according to health, security, and organizational standards that guarantee their well-being and the smooth performance of their rituals in a safe environment." The ministry clarified that health authorities in the Kingdom continue to assess the situation and take all necessary measures to protect public health, promising to announce later the details of the regulations and executive plans for this year's Hajj. Previously, Reuters reported that the authorities in the Kingdom were considering the possibility of preventing foreign arrivals from performing Hajj for the second consecutive year, due to concerns about the risk of increased coronavirus transmission in the country.