Coronavirus: Watch pictures of Kaaba being cleaned

Workers sterilise the ground in front of the Kaaba, at the Grand Mosque in Mecca. Saudi Arabia banned citizens and residents from performing pilgrimage in Mecca over fears of coronavirus, state news agency SPA said on Wednesday. The rare step by the kingdom, which hosts Islam's holiest sites, expands on restrictions introduced last week for Muslim pilgrims from abroad making the same religious trips and limiting the entry of tourists.

The latest measures concern the Umrah pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca and visits to a site in Medina.

Cleaners clean Zamzam water distribution area, following the outbreak of the coronavirus, at the Grand mosque in Mecca

Workers clean the Grand Mosque, in Mecca

Worshippers wearing protective face masks walk in the courtyard surrounding the Kaaba, at the Grand Mosque complex in Mecca

Cleaners wear protective masks as they sweep the floor at the Grand mosque in Mecca.

Sanitary workers wearing protective face masks continue to clean the courtyard surrounding the Kaaba, at the Grand Mosque complex in Mecca

A pilgrim wears a mask as he visits the Grand Mosque, in Mecca

Cleaners wear protective masks as they sweep the floor at the Grand mosque in Mecca.

Foreign pilgrims, entered Mecca before halting the visas, wait their bus to leave home in Mecca

Cleaners wear protective masks as they sweep the floor at the Grand mosque in Mecca.

A pilgrim feeds pigeons outside the Grand Mosque, in Mecca

Indonesian pilgrims, who entered Mecca before halting the visas, wait their bus to leave home in Mecca

Sanitation workers clean the area outside the Kaaba, at the Grand Mosque complex in Mecca

Cleaners wear protective masks as they sweep the floor at the Grand mosque in Mecca.

Cleaners sweep the floor at the Grand mosque in Mecca.

Cleaners wear protective masks as they sweep the floor at the Grand mosque in Mecca.