Saudi Arabia suspends entry for hajj over fear of Coronavirus

On Thursday Saudi Arabia on Thursday suspended visas for visits to Islam’s holiest sites for the hajj, an unprecedented move caused by fear of coronavirus for the mission which starts in July.

The kingdom, which hosts millions of pilgrims every year in the cities of Mecca and Medina, also suspended visas for tourists from countries with reported infections as fears of a pandemic deepen.

Saudi Arabia, which so far has reported no cases of the virus but has expressed alarm over its spread in neighbouring countries, said the suspensions were not permanent. And have no fixed date it will be lifted.

“The kingdom’s government has decided to take the following precautions: suspending entry to the kingdom for the purpose of umrah and visit to the Prophet’s mosque temporarily,” the foreign ministry said in a statement.

“Suspending entry into the kingdom with tourist visas for those coming from countries, in which the spread of the new coronavirus (COVID-19) is a danger.”

Gulf countries have already announced a laid down measures, including flight suspensions and school closures, to curb the spread of the disease from people returning from pilgrimages to Iran.