Saudi Mecca clock
Saudi Arabia so far has registered 353,918 virus cases and 5,692 related fatalities. Image Credit: AFP

Cairo: Starting from Wednesday, hospitals in the holy city of Mecca will allow visits to patients after an eight-month suspension prompted by an outbreak of the novel coronavirus, according to a local report.

In recent weeks, there has been a significant dip in virus infections in Saudi Arabia amid tight precautions.

Hospitals in Mecca have outlined regulations for in-patient visits, limiting them to first-degree relatives. Only two persons are allowed to visit the patient per day, each for 20 minutes, Sabq newspaper reported.

However, visits to patients ill with coronavirus or suspected of having the disease are banned.

Visitors with high temperatures or having respiratory problems such as coughing or shortness of breath will, meanwhile, be denied access to hospitals.

Saudi Arabia so far has registered 353,918 virus cases and 5,692 related fatalities.