The Agency for the Affairs of the Prophet's Mosque has decided to prohibit children from entering the Prophet's Mosque and its courtyards. It stated on its Twitter account: "For your safety and as part of precautionary measures... entry of children into the Prophet's Mosque and its courtyards is prohibited."
The Agency also announced the opening of the mosque's roof for the Maghrib and Isha prayers to increase the mosque's capacity while implementing precautionary measures, according to the agency's official account on social media.
A video was shared by the Agency showing prayer in the Prophet's Mosque while adhering to physical distancing and precautionary measures, stating: "Worshippers in the Prophet's Mosque adhere to physical distancing and comply with precautionary and preventive measures."
The Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah issued a decision last Tuesday to cancel repeated Umrah and allow booking a new permit immediately after completing the previous permit. The allowed duration for requesting a new Umrah permit is set at 10 days from the date of the end of the previous Umrah.
Saudi Arabia attributed the amendment in specifying the allowed duration for repeating Umrah to the precautionary measures that have been reinstated in the Two Holy Mosques and the Kingdom, in light of the rapid increase in coronavirus infections in the country, according to a statement from the Saudi Ministry of Health.
The Saudi Interior Ministry confirmed that the re-imposition of commitment to precautionary measures, wearing masks, and social distancing is based on the Kingdom's concern for the health and safety of citizens, residents, and visitors to the Two Holy Mosques amid the rising rates of coronavirus spread in Saudi Arabia.
