Saudi Arabia: Haj service providers required to get COVID-19 jabs
Vaccination or PCR testing mandatory for Mecca, Medina workers
Cairo: All people participating in providing services connected to the Haj pilgrimage are required to get vaccinated against COVID-19 or undergo weekly testing against the highly contagious ailment, the Saud Ministry of Haj and Umrah has said.
The requirement will take effect as of the first day of Ramadan expected to begin on April 13.
The service providers will have to get the vaccination or show evidence of negative coronavirus-detecting PCR testing that they will have to undergo every seven days at the expense of their employers, the ministry said, according to Saudi media.
In the same vein, the Saudi Ministry of Municipal and Village Affairs and Housing has said it is mandatory for all workers in stores in the holy cities of Mecca and Medina to receive vaccination against COVID-19 by first of Ramadan or undergo PCR testing every seven days.
Earlier reports in Saudi media said 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 coronavirus.
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.
Before arrival
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.
The foreign pilgrim must show negative evidence of a 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.
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.
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.