KARACHI: Trips of Umrah or the lesser pilgrimage will resume later this month after the current Hajj season ends, The Gulf News quoted Saudi official, as saying.

Last October, Saudi Arabia resumed Umrah after a suspension of around seven months due to the global coronavirus pandemic.

The Umrah will restart on the 15th of the current Islamic month of Dhu Al Hijjah corresponding to July 23, Saudi Deputy Minister of Hajj and Umrah Abdulfattah Al Mashat said.

“In the beginning, the number of the pilgrims will be 20,000 [per day]. The number will increase gradually,” he told Saudi-owned television Al Arabiya.

The official explained that the issue is handled on the basis of the epidemiological situation in the holy city of Makkah and outside Saudi Arabia.

In October, Saudi Arabia set into motion a plan for gradual resumption of the Umrah, amid stringent precautions against the Covid-19.

The first phase of the plan, which began on October 4, allowed 6,000 pilgrims from inside the kingdom/day into the Grand Mosque in Makkah.

The second went into effect on October 18, allowing around 40,000 worshippers and 10,000 pilgrims/day into the site.

As many as 20,000 pilgrims and 60,000 worshipers/day were allowed into the mosque according to the third phase that started in November. Ramazan is usually a peak Umrah season.

During the last Ramazan, the authorities increased the capacity of the Grand Mosque to reach 50,000 pilgrims and 100,000 worshippers/day.

Only “immunised” people against the Covid-19 were allowed to perform the Umrah and visit the Prophet’s Mosque in the holy city of Madinah.

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