How news sparked excitement among World 2 billion Muslim population and effect on next year Hajj operations
Saudi Arabia Mosques have started to return to full capacity with more worshippers getting set to converged within the religious centres to perform their prayer sessions and other rites.
Platforms Africa reports that this came after the country’s government relaxed compulsory use of face masks, social distancing, and other COVID-19 protocols ahead of next year’s hajj.
The Saudi Ministry of Interior announced that due to a significant nationwide decline in COVID-19 cases as well as the Kingdom’s high vaccination rates, a number of restrictions have been relaxed and that the directives take effect beginning from Sunday, October 17.
The news, which is already spreading fast among 2 billion World Muslim population, Platforms Africa reports, has heightened hope of a full scale Hajj and Ummrah operations next year.
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Aside from the reduction in cases, the government was reported to have also announced the directives to slow down after over 50 per cent of the country’s population, 20.6 million, were account to have received their COVID-19 jabs across the country.
The ministry, according Platforms Africa, announced that face masks would no longer be mandatory in outdoor settings, except for certain specific locations including the Grand Mosque in Makkah and the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah, where all visitors and staff must still wear masks.
It noted that the two mosques would return to full capacity, but visitors must be reserved through the Ministry of Health-approved apps, Eatmarna and Tawakkalna.
In addition, social distancing would no longer be mandatory at social gatherings and in public settings including transport, restaurants, cinemas, and more. Wedding halls will also be allowed to return full capacity.
However, a number of precautionary measures, the government stressed, would remain in place for people outside of their homes, including temperature checks upon entry into establishments and health status checks via the Tawakkalna app. Public and private establishments will still be required to make hand sanitizer widely available.
Social distancing and face masks would still be mandatory in locations where Tawakkalna health status checks were not applied within the country.
The government, Platforms Africa reports, noted that the Health ministry would continue to monitor the number of COVID-19 cases resulting in hospitalization and admittance to Intensive Care Units (ICU).
It meanwhile warned that if red flags were raised due to the relaxation of rules, then precautionary measures will be re-introduced in cities, governorates, or regions as necessary.
