Saudi Arabia on Thursday stopped travel to the holiest destinations in Islam over coronavirus fears only months prior to the yearly Hajj journey, as the Middle East recorded in excess of 220 affirmed cases.
The unprecedented choice by Saudi government keeps foreign pilgrims from reaching the holy city of Mecca and Holy Ka’abah. Also, travel was suspended to Prophet Muhammad’s(PNUH) mosque in Medina.
The choice demonstrated the degree of worry about the flare-up possibly spreading into Saudi Arabia, whose oil-rich government stakes its authenticity on ensuring Islam’s blessed locales.
“Saudi Arabia renews its support for all international measures to limit the spread of this virus and urges its citizens to exercise caution before travelling to countries experiencing coronavirus outbreaks,” the Saudi foreign ministry said in a statement.
“We request that God Almighty tp spare all humanity from all harm.”
Indonesia’s Minister for foreign affairs on Thursday encouraged Saudi government to permit its residents to proceed with their Umrah journey. Indonesia is the world’s greatest Muslim-larger part nation and it frequently sends around one million individuals on the journey each year to KSA.
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