Cairo: Saudis and Muslim expatriates were allowed today to pray inside the Grand Mosque in Mecca for the first time in about seven months under a gradual plan based on strict measures against the spread of the new coronavirus.
Worshippers performed the Fajr (dawn) prayers in the holy mosque while observing stringent anti-virus precautions including keeping distancing and using their own prayer rugs.
About 40,000 worshippers and 15,000 Umrah pilgrims are allowed per day in the site under the second phase of the gradual plan that took effect today.
The first phase started on October 4, allowing the Umrah for limited numbers of pilgrims from inside the kingdom.
The faithful need to register via the Etmarna App to obtain permits to perform the Umrah as well as to visit the Grand Mosque and Rawdah Al Sharifa in the Prophet’s Mosque in Medina.
Muslims abroad will be allowed to go to Saudi Arabia to perform the Umrah as of November 1.
