Saudi Arabia to allow around 1,000 pilgrims to perform Haj this year 2020.

 

Saudi Arabia announced on Monday it would hold a “very limited” Haj this year, as it moves to curb the biggest coronavirus outbreak.

The pilgrimage, scheduled for the end of July, will be limited to those below 65 years of age and with no chronic illnesses.

The number of pilgrims will be around 1,000, maybe less, maybe a little more.

“The number won’t be in tens or hundreds of thousands” this year, he added.

The pilgrimage, scheduled for the end of July.

There will be limited to those below 65 years of age and with no chronic illnesses, Health Minister Tawfiq al-Rabiah said.

The decision comes as Saudi Arabia grapples with a major spike in infections, which have now risen to more than 161,000 cases — the highest in the Gulf — with more than 1,300 deaths.

The decision marks the first time in Saudi Arabia’s modern history that Muslims outside the kingdom have been barred from performing Haj, which last year drew 2.5 million pilgrims.