At Mecca’s Grand Mosque, folks pray shoulder-to-shoulder as Saudi Arabia eases Covid norms

Worshippers prayed shoulder-to-shoulder on the Grand Mosque within the holy metropolis of Mecca on Sunday as Saudi Arabia eased COVID-19 norms.
Floor markings in and across the mosque to make sure social distancing have been eliminated. “This is in line with the decision to ease precautionary measures and to allow pilgrims and visitors to the Grand Mosque at full capacity,” the official Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported. The mosque is now permitting full capability attendance.

The grand mosque in Mecca after Saudi Arabia loosened coronavirus restrictions not too long ago. For the primary time because the pandemic, persons are praying shoulder to shoulder once more. https://t.co/AWGVFacDPY
— Vivian Nereim (@viviannereim) October 17, 2021
The SPA report additional acknowledged that guests have to be totally vaccinated and put on masks on mosque grounds. Moreover, the Kaaba, in the direction of which devotees face to hope, stays cordoned off.
Saudi Arabia’s inside ministry had introduced on Friday that COVID-19 restrictions will probably be lifted from October 17 following a pointy drop in every day infections and appreciable progress in vaccinations. The authorities have cancelled curbs on totally vaccinated folks at closed venues, gatherings, transportation, eating places and cinemas. Masks are not necessary at public open locations whereas nonetheless imposed at closed venues, as per a Reuters report.

The transfer to ease COVID-19 norms on the Grand Mosque come as a reduction to the nation, the place the Hajj and Umrah pilgrimages register mixed annual earnings of $12 billion. As against the thousands and thousands of individuals the Hajj attracts, round 60,000 vaccinated residents had been allowed to participate within the pilgrimage this yr. Meanwhile, the nation introduced in August that vaccinated foreigners will probably be allowed to make the Umrah.