Saudi Arabia: 2 COVID-19 jabs obligatory for Haj pilgrims

Cairo: Saudi authorities will make it obligatory for Muslims wishing to perform this year’s Haj to receive two doses of a vaccine against COVID-19 prior to the holy rituals as part of the kingdom’s efforts to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus, according to the local media.

The pilgrims residing inside Saudi Arabia will have to take two doses of a vaccine approved in the kingdom before the first day of Dhu Al Hijjah, the Islamic month of the Haj.

The pilgrims coming from abroad will be obliged to take two doses of any of the vaccines approved by the World Health Organisation, with the second jab to be taken one week before the pilgrim’s arrival in the kingdom.

Likewise, the foreign pilgrim must have a negative coronavirus test conducted 72 hours before arriving in Saudi Arabia. All pilgrims will have to go into quarantine for 72 hours during which they will be tested again for COVID-19, according to Saudi media.

As part of health rules, performing this year’s Haj will be confined to pilgrims aged between 18 to 60 years, excluding age categories most vulnerable to infections.

Divided into groups

Moreover, all pilgrims and workers engaged in the Haj services must wear face masks and observe social distancing of at least 1.5 metres in housing and during movements. Pilgrims will be divided into groups, with each not exceeding 100 persons.

The Saudi Health Ministry plans to ensure vaccinating at least 60 per cent of residents in the holy cities of Mecca and Medina by the beginning of Dhu Al Haj.

There was no immediate official confirmation in Saudi Arabia of the reported Haj regulations or a word on the number of the pilgrims to attend this year’s rituals.

Last year’s Haj was performed by a limited number of Saudis and foreign Muslims residing in Saudi Arabia to contain the spread of COVID-19.