Hajj 2020: KSA issues health protocols for COVID-19 prevention

The government of Saudi Arabia has announced health protocols for the prevention of (COVID 19) disease for Hajj season 1441 H.

The protocols, issued by Saudi Center for Disease Prevention and Control SaudiCDC, covered general controls for service providers, residential buildings, food places, buses, Men’s barbershops, Arafa and Muzdalifah and Makkah’s Grand Mosque.

The health protocols also highlighted the awareness aspects concerning the prevention of (COVID 19) disease.

The controls include forbidding entrance to the holy sites (Mona, Muzdalifah, Arafat) without a permit, starting from Sunday 28 of Dhu al-Qi’dah 1441 AH corresponding to July 19, 2020 AD until the end of Sunday 12 of Dhu al-Hijjah 1441 AH corresponding to August 2, 2020.

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The controls allow completion of Hajj for suspected cases, after evaluation by the specialist doctor, so that they are attached to the group of suspected cases. A separate residence and transports are allocated to them.

The controls detail health conditions for workers, highlight the importance of wearing masks, explain logistics for pilgrims to ensure social distancing and procedures of sanitization.

The controls allow prayers in congregation with an emphasis on wearing a cloth mask during the congregational prayer and keeping the distance between the worshipers.

The controls also detail measures concerning water and food, hygiene and transport in buses.

In the Grand Mosque, touching or kissing the honorable Kaaba or the Black Stone are prevented. Social distancing is also stressed by the controls.