Health
PEOPLE working in services related to Muslim pilgrimages in Saudi Arabia must be vaccinated against Coronavirus or take a PCR test once a week starting next month, the government said on Friday.
Every year, millions of Muslims usually perform the Hajj pilgrimage as well as the minor Umrah pilgrimage.
However, due to the coronavirus pandemic, the kingdom suspended the Umrah for seven months in 2020 and only allowed a limited number of Saudis and foreigners already residing in Saudi Arabia to perform the Hajj.
The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah on Friday said that workers in sectors related to the pilgrimages, including shops and services, must either be vaccinated or take a PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test every seven days.
Such tests usually yield results within a day or two.
The decision will go into effect at the beginning of the fasting month of Ramadan, expected to start on April 13.
Saudi Arabia has not yet announced how many people can attend the Hajj this summer.
Earlier this month, Saudi newspaper Okaz reported that the minister of health issued a decision that a coronavirus vaccine is mandatory for those wishing to take part in this year’s Hajj.
With a population of nearly 35 million, Saudi Arabia said more than 3 million people have been vaccinated. (dpa/NAN)
– Mar. 26, 2021 @ 15:44 GMT
Tags: COVID-19: Weekly test compulsory for Hajj workers says Riyadh
